(Cabinet Member Key Decision – 18 August 2014)
SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL
NOTIFICATION OF A PROPOSED KEY DECISION TO BE TAKEN BY THE CABINET
MEMBER FOR HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT
Report title: Adoption of Network Management Plan (Updated 2014)
Cabinet Member(s): Harvey Siggs, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Author Contact Details: Jane Creagh-Osborne, Senior Transport Policy Officer
Date of Publication of proposed Key Decision: 8th August 2014
Date proposed Key Decision to be made: 18th August 2014
Date Decision comes into force: 22nd August 2014
1.
Cabinet Member Decision
That the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport agrees that the County
Council adopts the ‘Network Management Plan 2014’ (attached as Appendix A of
the report) as Council policy.
2.
Reason for Decision(s)
As set out in the attached report.
3.
Reason(s) for Urgency (where applicable)
Not applicable.
4.
Details of any alternative options considered and rejected
As set out in the attached report.
5.
Any relevant Personal Interest that the Cabinet Member may have under
the Council’s Code of Conduct for members
Cllr Siggs is an elected member of Mendip District Council.
6.
Details of any conflict(s) of interest declared by a Cabinet Member
consulted about the proposals and any dispensation from Chief Executive
None identified.
7.
Other background information considered by the Cabinet Member before
making this decision
As set out in the attached report.
1
(Cabinet Member Key Decision – 18 August 2014)
Officer Report
– 10 July 2014
Adoption of Network Management Plan (Updated 2014)
Cabinet Member(s): Harvey Siggs, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Division and Local Member(s): All
Lead Officer: Bev Norman, Service Manager - Traffic Management
Author: Jane Creagh-Osborne, Senior Transport Policy Officer
Contact Details: jcosborne@somerset.gov.uk, 01823 355429
Seen by:
County Solicitor
Monitoring Officer
Report Sign off
Corporate Finance
Human Resources
Senior Manager
Cabinet Member
Name
Honor Clarke
Julian Gale
Stephen Morton /
Martin Gerrish
Sari Brice
Paula Hewitt
Harvey Siggs
Date
17 July 2014
17 July 2014
17 July 2014
17 July 2014
17 July 2014
17 July 2014
Forward Plan
Reference:
FP/13/09/05
Summary:
The Network Management Plan demonstrates that the Authority
is complying with the expectations of the Government in relation
to the Traffic Management Act 2004 and Network Management
Duty. The original 2010 plan has been updated to reflect
organisational changes, advances in technology, new legislation
and policy development. The Plan provides a comprehensive
guide and reference document for Somerset County Council,
other responsible organisations and local communities.
Recommendations:
The Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport agrees that
the County Council adopts the Network Management Plan
(attached as Appendix A to the report) as Council policy.
Reasons for
Recommendations:
Under the Traffic Management Act 2004 the County Council, as
the local traffic authority has a statutory obligation to produce a
Network Management Plan. The Plan is a key Council document
which demonstrates comprehensively how Somerset County
Council will ensure compliance with its Network Management
Duty under the Traffic Management Act.
The document will help deliver the following County Plan
priorities:
Links to Priorities
and Impact on
Service Plans:
•
•
… that Somerset is a thriving local economy,
attracting jobs and investment - by improving key road,
rail and broadband communication links;
… that Somerset is a place where people have the
good quality services they need - by joining-up with
2
(Cabinet Member Key Decision – 18 August 2014)
partners, organisations and communities to provide and
run efficient services to make every pound work hard for
Somerset.
Consultations
undertaken:
Financial
Implications:
Legal Implications:
HR Implications:
The Network Management Plan is part of Somerset’s Future
Transport Plan which has been the subject of an extensive
public consultation.
Prior to adoption consultation with all relevant internal parties,
including managers in Economic and Community Infrastructure
Operations and Commissioning, has been undertaken following
the preparation of a consultation draft of the Plan.
Significant amendments were made to the document as a result
of this consultation.
The Plan promotes economically sustainable use of the highway
network.
Funding for the Traffic Control and Information Centre has been
identified.
Otherwise the Plan represents ‘business as usual’ and it is not
anticipated that adoption of the Plan will necessitate additional
revenue or capital funding.
Failure to adopt a Network Management Plan would leave the
Council in breach of its statutory duty under the Traffic
Management Act 2004.
None identified.
The risks of not adopting the Plan are:
•
•
•
Risk Implications:
•
•
Increases in congestion and disruption on the authority’s
road network;
A failure to support local highway authorities and the
Highways Agency in reducing congestion and disruption
on neighbouring road networks;
Intervention by the Secretary of State (if it can be
demonstrated that a local traffic authority is failing with
regard to the Network Management Duty);
Failure to secure public or private funding for traffic
management schemes supporting the Plan; and
Reputational risk to the authority.
The risks of adopting the Plan concern potential failure to
implement Plan policies due, for instance, to shortages of
funding, public criticism or uncooperative behavior from external
contractors. (See risk assessment in Appendix B.)
Other Implications
(including due
regard
implications):
Scrutiny comments
/ recommendation
(if any):
The Network Management Plan has been subject to an
equalities impact assessment. No significant negative impacts
were identified.
N/A
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(Cabinet Member Key Decision – 18 August 2014)
1.
Background
1.1.
The Network Management Duty is imposed on Local Transport Authorities in
Part 2 of the Traffic Management Act of 2004 which came into force in July 2005.
The main aim of the Act is to reduce congestion and disruption on the road
network. It establishes various duties for local transport authorities that aim to
ensure that all activities affecting the local road network are planned, coordinated
and executed effectively.
The Traffic Management Act is intended to provide the basis for better conditions
for all road users through the proactive management of the national and local
road networks.
1.2.
The Network Management Plan is intended to demonstrate that Somerset
County Council, as the local traffic authority, is complying with the expectations
of the Government in relation to the Traffic Management Act 2004 and Network
Management Duty and to provide a comprehensive guide and reference
document for the County Council and other responsible organisations.
1.3.
The County Council first published a Network Management Plan in March 2010.
Since then organisational change, new legislation, policy development and
technological progress have all impacted on network management issues. The
original Network Management Plan has therefore been updated to better reflect
the current circumstances.
2.
Options considered and reasons for rejecting them
2.1.
The alternative option in respect of the Network Management Plan is not to adopt
the plan. Failure to adopt the Plan would place the council in breach of its
statutory duty to have such a plan in place.
3.
Consultations undertaken
3.1.
An internal consultation, involving both Operations and Commissioning in
Economic and Community Infrastructure, has been undertaken. This produced a
substantial response which led to both major and minor changes being made to
the Plan.
The Network Management Plan is part of Somerset’s Future Transport Plan
which has been the subject of an extensive public consultation.
3.2.
As part of this Key Decision process, this document is being sent to the
Opposition Spokesperson, Chair of Scrutiny and the officer associated with the
Equality Impact Assessment process.
4.
Financial, Legal, HR and Risk Implications
4.1.
Financial
The Plan promotes economically sustainable use of the highway network.
Funding for the Traffic Control and Information Centre has been identified.
Otherwise the Plan represents ‘business as usual’ and it is not anticipated that
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(Cabinet Member Key Decision – 18 August 2014)
adoption of the Plan will necessitate additional revenue or capital funding.
4.2.
Legal
The document is a statutory requirement under the Traffic Management Act
2004. Failure to adopt robust network management policies would leave the
Council poorly positioned to manage congestion and disruption on the county’s
highway network and unable to fully support neighbouring local traffic authorities
and the Highways Agency in managing their road networks.
4.3.
HR
None identified.
4.4.
Risk
The risks of not adopting this document are as follows:
• Increases in congestion and disruption on the authority’s road network;
• Inability to support local highway authorities and the Highways Agency in
reducing congestion and disruption on neighbouring road networks;
• Intervention by the Secretary of State (if it can be demonstrated that a
local traffic authority is failing with regard to the Network Management
Duty);
• Failure to secure public or private funding for traffic management schemes
supporting the Plan; and
• Reputational risk to the authority.
The risks of adopting the Plan concern potential failure to implement Plan
policies due, for instance, to shortages of funding, public criticism or
uncooperative behaviour from external contractors. (See risk assessment in
Appendix B.)
5.
Other Implications
5.1.
The Network Management Plan has been subject to an equalities impact
assessment. No significant negative impacts were identified.
6.
Background papers
6.1.
Somerset County Council Network Management Plan 2014 Update (Appendix A)
6.2.
Somerset Network Management Plan Equality Impact Assessment (Appendix B)
5
Augus
t2014
NETWORK MANAGEMENT
PLAN
Executive Summary
2
1. Introduction
4
2. The Network Management Duty
7
3. Strategic Network Management
14
4. Tactical Network Management
32
5. Operational Network
Management
43
6. Information Provision and Joint
Working
48
7. Monitoring and Review
53
Appendix A: Action Plan
60
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Executive Summary
The Network Management Plan is a key Council document which demonstrates
comprehensively how Somerset County Council will ensure compliance with its Network
Management Duty under the Traffic Management Act 2004.
The main objective of the Network Management Plan is to ensure that Somerset County
Council secures “the expeditious movement of traffic” on its own road network and, where
its actions have an influence, facilitates expeditious movement on the networks of the
Highway Agency and neighbouring authorities. The duty to manage the road network applies
“so far as is reasonably practicable having regard to [the Council’s] other obligations, policies
and objectives…”
Network management requires co-ordination of all activity on the highway including:
Planned and unplanned events, emergencies and works such as utility companies’
street works;
The Council’s own highway maintenance and improvement works; and
Developers’ works, skips and scaffolding.
The six sections (plus an introduction) that make up the Network Management Plan cover
the following aspects of network management:
The Network Management Duty
The legislation in the 2004 Traffic Management Act requires that Somerset County Council
adopts an organisational approach to fulfilling its duties under the Act.
Strategic Network Management
Transport policy in Somerset is set out in a number of strategies such as the Future Transport
Plan. Strategic network management policies and actions included in the Network
Management Plan ensure the Council is able to deliver the objectives of the Network
Management Plan in alignment with existing transport policy. Examples of strategic network
management policies relate to road space management, civil parking enforcement and
development management and should be taken into account in planning new development
and transport schemes.
Tactical Network Management
Tactical network management enables Somerset County Council to deal with a wide range
of planned activities that can reduce highway capacity and impact on the movement of
traffic and people. Examples are highway maintenance, development works, works to
utilities buried under the highway and temporary events that occupy highway space. These
are reasonably predictable activities and the County Council is able to plan in advance to
minimise their impact on road users. The County Council’s guidelines for tactical network
management in relation to planned activities are intended to be practical and clearly set
out what responsible authorities need to do in order to keep traffic moving.
2
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Operational Network Management
Somerset County Council and its partners work together to tackle unexpected incidents
and natural events that impact on the highway network and ensure they result in minimal
disruption to traffic. Examples of unexpected incidents include vehicle collisions, breakdowns,
adverse weather conditions and security alerts. These events, although unpredictable,
require an immediate and planned response. Contingency planning is the key to all the
operational network management activities that the County Council undertakes. Generic
plans can be developed which cater for most instances.
Information Provision and Joint Working
Somerset County Council recognises the importance of information provision to the public
and joint working with other stakeholders for effective strategic, tactical and operational
network management. Whilst a number of effective policies are already in place, the Council
is planning to expand its use of new technology and develop its information processing
resources in order to get the best out of transport data in the future. It is proposed that a
Traffic Control and Information Centre will be created to enable the Council to pro-actively
manage its roads and provide meaningful and up-to-date information to road users.
Monitoring and Review
Under the Traffic Management Act Somerset County Council must demonstrate that it is
meeting its Network Management Duty obligations by monitoring the effectiveness of its
strategic, tactical and operational policies and procedures in managing the road network.
The Council has identified a range of monitoring techniques to measure progress in achieving
this aim. Results will determine the next steps for the development of the Network
Management Plan.
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
3
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
1 Introduction
Revision of the Network Management Plan
Somerset County Council first published a Network Management Plan in March 2010 in
order to fulfil its obligation, as the local traffic authority, under the Network Management
Duty of the Traffic Management Act 2004. Since then the County Council has undergone
considerable organisational change which, along with new legislation and policy
development, has impacted on traffic management issues. As a result the original Network
Management Plan has been updated to better reflect the current circumstances.
The Network Management Plan is intended to provide a comprehensive guide and reference
document for both Somerset County Council and other responsible organisations and to
demonstrate that the Authority is complying with the expectations of the Government in
relation to the Traffic Management Act and Network Management Duty.
Our Objective
The principal objective of the Network Management Plan is to demonstrate that Somerset
County Council is managing its road network, as stated in Section 16(1) of the 2004 Act:
(a) To secure the expeditious movement of traffic on the authority’s road network; and
(b) To facilitate the expeditious movement of traffic on other road networks for which another
authority is the traffic authority.
This will be achieved by:
Considering the needs of all highway users and encouraging economical and
environmentally sustainable use of the network;
Use of primary legislation in the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and associated
Codes of Practice;
Forward planning and programming of all activities on the network;
Making strategic improvements to the network and responding to highway user concerns
when funding is available;
Effective co-ordination of all works on the highway;
Proactive management of the highway and its operations: i.e. maximising the use of
technology to inform and responding to and managing highway issues; and
Managing demand for on-street parking.
The Act makes it clear that the Council should be reasonably practical in balancing its
network management priorities against its other obligations, policies and objectives.
Who should read this document?
This Network Management Plan is relevant to and should guide the activities of a number
of organisations and individuals including:
Somerset County Council Highways and Transport services – as the local traffic
authority and local transport planning organisation;
4
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Other parts of Somerset County Council whose interests and activities have an impact
on demand for travel;
Taunton Deane Borough Council and Mendip, Sedgemoor, West Somerset and South
Somerset District Councils (illustrated in Figure 1.1) responsible for:
Planning new development;
Street sweeping;
Managing car parking; and
Licensing events that impact on the highway.
Somerset County Council’s highways and transportation contractors;
Neighbouring local traffic authorities – Devon, Dorset, North Somerset, Wiltshire and
Bath & North East Somerset;
Bus, taxi and freight operators who need reliable traffic conditions to operate their
services;
The DfT – responsible for overall monitoring of local traffic authority performance
against the Network Management Duty;
The Highways Agency – responsible for the Motorway and Trunk Road network, in
particular the M5, A303 and A36;
Organisations responsible for various highway assets (such as bridges) – including
Network Rail and the Environment Agency;
Statutory Undertakers such as Wessex Water, Wales and the West Utilities, Western
Power Distribution, Bristol Water, BT Openreach –responsible for undertaking works
on, over or under the highway; and
Individuals or groups who wish to organise events on the highway or who organise
events that will create significant travel demand on the highway.
Document Structure
The remainder of the Network Management Plan consists of six sections:
Section 2 summarises the legal requirements of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and
Somerset County Council’s overall approach;
Sections 3, 4 and 5 outline, respectively, the strategic network management policies,
the tactical network management policies and the operational network management
policies that Somerset County Council and other responsible organisations will need
to pursue in order to meet the Traffic Management Act 2004 requirements;
Section 6 sets out Somerset County Council’s policies on information provision and
joint working; and
Section 7 describes the performance monitoring required to provide evidence that
Somerset County Council is meeting the requirements of the Traffic Management Act.
It also outlines methods for developing the Network Management Plan in the future.
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
5
Figure 1.1 Somerset Districts
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
6
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
2 The Network Management Duty
Traffic Management Act 2004
The Network Management Duty is imposed on Local Transport Authorities in Part 2 of the
(1)
Traffic Management Act of 2004 which came into force in July 2005.
The main aim of the Act is to reduce congestion and disruption on the road network. It
establishes various duties for local transport authorities that aim to ensure that all activities
affecting the local road network are planned, coordinated and executed effectively.
The Traffic Management Act is intended to provide the basis for better conditions for all
road users through the proactive management of the national and local road networks.
Network Management
Part 2 of the Act places the Network Management Duty on traffic authorities to keep traffic
flowing. It also allows the Secretary of State to enforce the Duty by intervening if the local
traffic authority is considered to be failing in its duties.
Section 16 (1) states:
“It is the duty of a local traffic authority to manage their road network with a view to achieving,
so far as is reasonably practicable having regard to their other obligations, policies and
objectives, the following objectives –
(a) securing the expeditious movement of traffic on the authority’s road network; and
(b) facilitating the expeditious movement of traffic on road networks for which another
authority is the traffic authority.”
The Act states that the Council should try to achieve these two objectives “so far as is
reasonably practicable having regard to [its] other obligations, policies and objectives”. For
example, in practice some disruption to traffic has to be accepted in order to keep costs
down. The balance between cost effectiveness and disruption caused is a judgment that
the Council must make on a case by case basis. If the expeditious movement of traffic was
the only or main priority, all maintenance work would take place out of normal working hours
at greatly inflated costs, which in turn would mean that less maintenance work would be
done.
Section 16(2) defines the action that a local traffic authority may take in performing the Duty
to include anything that will contribute to the more efficient use of the network, or that will
eliminate or reduce congestion or disruption.
Section 17 sets out the arrangements that a local traffic authority must make in order to
manage its own road network. These include the appointment of a Traffic Manager and
establishing processes to identify and deal with the causes of congestion and disruption.
1
Full details of the Traffic Management Act 2004 can be found on the legislation
Information website: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/18/contents
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
7
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Provision must also be made for determining specific policies and objectives for the different
roads on the highway network, and monitoring the effectiveness of the local traffic authority’s
arrangements and decision making in meeting the duty.
Section 31 specifically states that the interpretation of the term “traffic” should include
pedestrians. Therefore the Network Management Duty requires the local traffic authority
to consider the movement needs of all road users: that is, pedestrians and cyclists as well
as motorised vehicles engaged in the transport of people or goods.
The Network Management Duty is qualified to the extent that each local traffic authority
has other obligations, policies and objectives which they must also address. Accordingly,
the Duty should not automatically take precedence over everything else that a local traffic
authority does. For example, it should not undermine an authority’s road safety, accessibility
or development control objectives.
(2)
The Department for Transport issued Network Management Duty Guidance in January
2005 to help authorities manage their responsibilities under the Traffic Management Act
2004 and work toward the expeditious movement of traffic on their roads.
Other Provisions of the Traffic Management Act
Part 3 of the Traffic Management Act provides for the implementation of Permit Schemes
in order to gain greater control over activities on the network.
Part 4 gives local traffic authorities greater powers of control and enforcement over activities
carried out by statutory undertakers and others including a local traffic authority’s own
operatives/contractors; better protection of new road surfaces; and improved training and
accreditation for operatives.
Part 5 amends the Highways Act 1980 and allows for lane ‘rental’ charges for skips,
scaffolding, building materials and temporary evacuations of the highway.
Section 6 provides for the introduction of Civil Parking Enforcement whereby local authorities
can become responsible for enforcement of on-street waiting restrictions.
Intervention
If it can be demonstrated that a local traffic authority is failing with regard to the Network
Management Duty, the Traffic Management Act allows the Secretary of State for Transport
to intervene at various levels.
Intervention is likely to start with a ‘soft touch’ to try to resolve the perceived shortcomings.
This may be followed by an ‘intervention notice’ stating what is wrong and a time scale for
improvement. Should the authority not respond, the Secretary of State may issue an
‘intervention order’ and appoint a Traffic Director to ensure that the duty in question is
performed properly.
2
8
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/tmaportal/tmafeatures/tmapart2/tmafeaturespart2.pdf
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Somerset’s Highways and Transport Services
There are four groups within Somerset County Council, the local traffic authority, that
currently deliver the highways and transport related services through a combination of
commissioning and operations activity.
Highways and Transport Commissioning: Strategic commissioning of all highways
and transport services, policy, strategy and funding bids.
Highway Maintenance: Maintenance and rights of way operations and highway lighting.
Traffic and Transport Development: Highway improvement schemes, traffic
management, traffic control, road safety, highways development control, safety and
technical audit operations.
Traded Services: Passenger transport (Transporting Somerset) and parking
management operations.
In order to keep traffic and people moving, Somerset County Council faces a number of
challenges. First amongst these is the sheer magnitude of demand for travel, especially by
motor vehicles, in what is a predominately rural county.
Somerset has a highway network comprising 6,605km of road and 6,129km of public rights
of way. Table 2.1 summarises the distribution of roads across the five district authorities
(West Somerset, Taunton Deane, Sedgemoor, Mendip and South Somerset) that make up
the county as illustrated on Figure 1.1.
District
A Roads
B Roads
C Roads
Unclassified
Total
West
Somerset
84
115
296
456
951
Taunton
Deane
84
56
378
581
1100
Sedgemoor
120
60
333
564
1077
Mendip
181
109
487
743
1520
South
Somerset
192
117
722
927
1958
Total
660
458
2216
3272
6605
Table 2.1 Summary of Somerset County Council Highway Network (lengths to nearest km)
The Role of the Traffic Manager
The Traffic Management Act requires the Council to appoint a Traffic Manager, who is
responsible for delivering a coordinated, planned and effective response to the Network
Management Duty and to ensure that agreed actions are implemented. Somerset County
Council appointed its first Traffic Manager in October 2007 in order to fulfil these
requirements.
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
9
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
The Traffic Manager has been proactive in sharing the aims and objectives of the Act and
the Network Management Duty:
Attending the South West Counties Traffic Managers Forum;
Briefing and gaining the support of elected members;
Revising operational procedures;
Ensuring regular meetings take place with statutory undertakers (especially regarding
quality of reinstatements); and
Providing information on the County Council’s internet site.
The Traffic Manager uses a variety of traffic management tools to manage and monitor the
performance of the network. They include:
(3)
Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique – an adaptive linked traffic signal system
that responds to changes in traffic flow on an urban road network;
(4)
Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation – a system for isolated sets of traffic
signals that automatically resets signal timings in response to changes in traffic flow;
Closed Circuit Television – to detect the occurrence of an incident without relying
on someone to phone in and report it;
Mobile Safety Cameras – to assist with accident prevention where there is a previous
history of problems;
Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras – a tool for traffic counts and journey
time measurements; and
(5)
Elgin – a local roadworks information website .
All activities and events on the highway network in Somerset are registered with the Traffic
Manager who, by improving planning and coordination, minimises delays to the travelling
public and improves journey time reliability, especially for public transport.
Somerset’s Whole Authority Approach
All staff members working in the planning, improvement and maintenance of the highway
network are engaged in the Network Management Duty, be it the forward planning and
programming of schemes, booking road space or ensuring works are completed on time,
to budget and safety managed.
The following groups all have a role in ensuring, through close working, that the Council
exercises its responsibilities:
Highways and Transport Commissioning;
Highway Maintenance;
Traffic and Transport Development;
Transporting Somerset (Passenger transport);
Parking management operations;
Engineering Consultancy contractors;
3
4
5
10
http://www.scoot-utc.com/
http://www.traffic-signal-design.com/microprocessor_optimised_vehicle_actuation_mova.htm
http://roadworks.org/
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Street Works and Network Management team;
Street lighting and term maintenance contractors;
Traffic signal contractor;
Area highways engineers and technical staff;
Public Rights of Way staff;
Emergency planners;
Senior management team;
Elected Members;
The district councils of Taunton Deane, Sedgemoor, West Somerset, South Somerset
and Mendip; and
The Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
As the response to the Traffic Management Act develops across the whole country, changes
in emphasis and direction inevitably follow. The primary vehicle for cascading information
about these changes to staff will be through meetingsbetween Commissioning and
Operations, held when necessary to discuss the practical and operational aspects of the
Traffic Management Act and to develop and discuss new ideas and approaches.
Regular meetings are also held with the term maintenance contractor to discuss ongoing
issues of implementation and performance.
Somerset County Councils private sector consultant partner is applying the principles of
the Traffic Management Act in the design and construction of schemes by:
Clarifying and, where appropriate, challenging client briefs to minimise network
occupation and avoid conflicts with other schemes;
Liaison with the Street Works team to ensure delays to bus services caused by schemes
are minimised;
Regular progress meetings to establish programme dates and identify potential network
occupation conflicts; and
Use of roadworks.org to book road space and enable information to be displayed for
others to view.
Establishing partnerships and sharing information play a vital role in enabling the County
Council to deliver its Network Management Duty. The key information and communication
links sought by the Traffic Manager are set out in Section 6.
Table 2.2 summarises how Somerset County Council is fulfilling the requirements relating
to the Network Management Duty of the Traffic Management Act 2004.
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
11
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Section of
Act
12
Duty
SCC Fulfilment of Requirements
16(1)(a)
Securing the expeditious movement Consistent and comprehensive
of traffic on the authority’s road
implementation of the policies and
network
actions contained within this NMP,
whilst recognising that SCC has a
wide range of legal and policy
responsibilities
16(1)(b)
Facilitating the expeditious
movement of traffic on road networks
for which another authority is the
traffic authority
Close working (via Direct Local
Operating Agreements where
necessary) with the Highways
Agency and adjacent local highway
authorities
16(2)(a)
Securing the more efficient use of
the road network
Implementation of strategic, tactical
and operational network
management guidelines and
associated actions
16(2)(b)
Securing the avoidance, elimination
or reduction of road congestion or
other disruption to the movement of
traffic on the road network or another
authority’s road network
Implementation of strategic, tactical
and operational network
management guidelines and
associated actions
16(2)
The exercise of any power to
Implementation of tactical network
regulate or co-ordinate the uses
management guidelines
made of any road (or part of a road)
in the road network
17(1)
Making arrangements considered
Implementation of strategic network
appropriate for planning and carrying management policies
out the action to be taken in
performing the network management
duty
17(2)
Appointing a Traffic Manager
Appointment of Traffic Manager in
October 2007
17(4)(a)
Identifying things (including future
occurrences) which are causing, or
which have the potential to cause,
road congestion or other disruption
to the movement of traffic on their
road network
Implementation of operational
network management guidelines
17(4)(b)
Consider any possible action that
Implementation of operational
could be taken in response to (or in network management guidelines
anticipation of) anything so identified
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Section of
Act
Duty
SCC Fulfilment of Requirements
17(5)(a)
Determining specific policies or
Implementation of network and
objectives in relation to different
footway hierarchies
roads or classes of road in [the] road
network
17(5)(b)(i)
Monitoring the effectiveness of the
authority’s organisation and
decision-making processes
Periodic review of organisational
structures and processes; regular
review of Action Plan
17(5)(b)(ii)
Monitoring the effectiveness of
implementing the authority’s
decisions
Data collection and monitoring
performance indicators; regular
update of Action Plan
17(5)(c)
Assessing the authority’s
performance in managing the road
network
Monitoring arrangements outlined in
chapter 7
17(6)
Reviewing the effectiveness of the Monitoring arrangements outlined in
arrangements in place under Section chapter 7
17(1-5)
19
The Secretary of State may direct a
local traffic authority to provide,
within a specified period, specified
information connected with any
aspect of the performance of their
duties under sections 16 and 17
Data will be available to meet the
NMD monitoring requirements.
Information will be published
annually in SCC’s Traffic Statistics
Report.
Table 2.2 Fulfilment of Network Management Duties
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
13
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
3 Strategic Network Management
Current Transport Strategies and Plans
Introduction
As the local traffic authority, Somerset County Council is responsible for maintaining and
improving the transport network for the benefit of all road users. The primary means of
improving the network is through the implementation of the Future Transport Plan and other
transport strategies and by delivering major transport schemes.
Transport strategies and schemes have a vital role to play in making the best use of the
transport network through:
Removing congestion “pinch points”, especially at key junctions;
Encouraging people to use road space efficiently by car sharing, using bus, rail and
park & ride, cycling, walking and motorcycling;
Reducing the number and severity of road accidents (and the knock on disruption to
the network that they cause);
Maintaining the network in the most cost effective and least disruptive way possible
(6)
(via the Transport Asset Management Plan ); and
Working with planning authorities to ensure that as far as possible new development
is located where the need to travel by single occupancy private car is minimised.
This chapter sets out the key network management policies and actions that should influence
transport strategy in Somerset. The introduction of new transport schemes and land use
developments should always take the Network Management Plan into consideration and
any potential negative impact on the network should be mitigated where it is practical and
possible to do so.
Local Growth Fund
For the foreseeable future the majority of public funding for new transport measures will
come from the local growth fund which is devolved to the Local Enterprise Partnership and
allocated to projects which are judged to lead directly to economic growth. An important
role for Somerset County Council is to engage with the Local Enterprise Partnership to
ensure new transport investment is drawn down and provides improvements in Somerset.
Sustainable Community Strategy
Transport policy in Somerset reflects the six overarching aims of Somerset’s Sustainable
Community Strategy, namely ‘Making A Positive Contribution’, ‘ Living Sustainably ‘,
‘Ensuring Economic Wellbeing’, ‘Enjoying and Achieving’, ‘Staying Safe’ and ‘Being Healthy’.
The Future Transport Plan for the period up to 2026, and a number of supporting strategies,
all contribute to achieving this vision.
6
14
http://www.somerset.gov.uk/policies-and-plans/plans/transport-asset-management-plan-tamp/
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Future Transport Plan
(7)
Somerset’s Future Transport Plan (2011-2026) sets out an overall long term strategy for
delivering transport priorities in Somerset. The Future Transport Plan is supported by
implementation plans published every three years setting out how resources will be allocated
and how additional investment will be used.
Strategic priorities of the Future Transport Plan include:
Better managing the traffic on the roads and improving the most congested junctions
and routes;
Working with developers to mitigate impacts of new developments;
Encouraging organisations to develop Travel Plans;
Helping people make smarter travel choices;
Promoting information and communication technology;
Improving parking management;
Providing high quality transport information;
Maintaining the network with optimum use of resources;
Working with communities to help them help themselves; and
Maintaining the public rights of way network.
Future Transport Plan Policy Documents
Somerset County Council has also published a ‘Schedule of Policies’ setting out in more
detail the transport policies which came into force with the Future Transport Plan in April
2011. Policies are grouped according to their role in delivering the aims of the Sustainable
Community Strategy.
As the transport authority the County Council advises district councils, developers and other
parties involved in transport and development. The document ‘Transport and Development’
sets out the County Council’s policy approach to development.
Supporting Transport Strategies
A number of supporting strategies accompany the Future Transport Plan some of which
are focused on particular modes of transport. These are the Active Travel Strategy (including
Walking, Cycling, School Travel and Information & Communication Strategies), Freight
Strategy, Motorcycling Strategy, Parking Strategy, Road Safety Strategy and Passenger
Transport Strategy (including Bus and Rail Strategies).
Transport strategies for specific towns address areas where congestion is significant and
where future planned growth is likely to increase demand for travel. These strategies are
based on detailed survey and modelling evidence and broadly seek to manage the network
by tackling pinch-points and identifying opportunities for congestion reduction through a
variety of interventions.
7
http://www.somerset.gov.uk/transportstrategy
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
15
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Document
Summary of Relationship to Network Management Duty
SCC Future Transport
Plan (FTP) 2011-2026
The overall long term strategy for delivering transport priorities
in Somerset. Commits the Council to working to:
“…better manage the traffic on the roads and improve the most
congested junctions and routes. We will work with developers
to try and make sure new developments don’t make conditions
worse”
Promotes sustainable modes and travel planning.
Local Plans
District Council spatial planning documents providing details of
the strategic land allocations and overall numbers of houses
and jobs to be delivered during the life of the plans which
influences future patterns of traffic movements and hence the
performance of the highway network.
Infrastructure Delivery
Plans
The Infrastructure Delivery Plan seeks to identify the
infrastructure impacts of the anticipated growth figures set out
in a district’s Local Plan. It provides indicative costs of
infrastructure and identifies public funding mechanism and
responsibility for delivery.
LEP Strategic Economic Targets areas for new transport investment from 2015-2021.
Plan
Transport Strategy for
Bridgwater, Taunton
and Wellington;
Transport Strategy for
Yeovil
Long term strategies for a range of modes to improve transport
in larger urban areas. These feed into delivery documents (e.g.
FTP and Local Plans) and identify investment needs for major
transport schemes. A particular focus is to reduce traffic growth
associated with development.
Transport Asset
Management Plan
SCC policies and actions for proactive assessment and
improvement of highway structural and surface condition,
maintenance and improvement of street lights, traffic signals,
bus shelters etc. The timing and frequency of maintenance
regimes has a very significant impact on the availability of road
space.
Road Safety Strategy
Engineering, enforcement and education strategies to reduce
the number and severity of road traffic accidents and resulting
casualties. This is particularly important for reducing the number
of times when the highway network is blocked and disrupted
as a result of accidents.
Public Rights of Way
Improvement Plan
Sets out how the Public Rights of Way network will be both
maintained and improved to better serve needs of the public
Table 3.1 Somerset Transport Strategy and the Network Management Duty
16
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
A transport strategy for the Bridgwater, Taunton and Wellington urban area for the period
2011 to 2026 has been adopted. A review of Yeovil’s existing transport strategy is in progress
(August 2013) and will produce a plan to support development in the town up to 2028.
Table 3.1 summarises Somerset County Council’s current transport, land use and operational
strategy documents and their broad relationship with the Network Management Plan.
Strategic Network Management Policies
Road Space Management
Somerset’s policy on road space management is based on recommendations contained in
(8)
the DfT publication ‘Manual for Streets'’ (Part 1). Paragraph 2.4.2 states:
“In the past, road design hierarchies have been based almost exclusively on the importance
attributed to vehicular movement. This has led to the marginalisation of pedestrians and
cyclists in the upper tiers where vehicular capacity requirements predominate. The principle
that a road was primarily for motor traffic has tended to filter down into the design of streets
in the bottom tiers of the hierarchy.”
The Road Space Management policy seeks to ensure that a balanced approach to road
user provision is taken, on a scheme by scheme basis. Full attention is paid to the needs
of vulnerable road users and the promotion of sustainable modes of travel, which are usually
efficient in their use of road space. The policy ensures that the needs of all the following
road users are fully considered when transport strategies, plans and investment programmes
are developed:
Pedestrians, especially visually and physically impaired people;
Cyclists;
Bus service operators and users;
Specialist service operators and users – emergency services, waste collectors etc;
and
Other motor vehicle users – including taxi and private hire passengers, freight operators,
private car drivers and motorcyclists.
Details of policies and schemes to facilitate movement around the network for specific
(9)
groups of road users are included in the following strategies :
Pedestrians – Active Travel (Walking) Strategy;
Cyclists – Active Travel (Cycling) Strategy;
Public transport services – Passenger Transport Strategy;
Motorcyclists – Motorcycling Strategy; and
Freight – Freight Strategy.
8
9
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/manual-for-streets
http://www.somerset.gov.uk/transportstrategy
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
17
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
The policy on road space management is also consistent with the approach being pursued
(10)
by smarter choices sustainable travel initiatives such as Moving Somerset Forward
and
(11)
‘The Bridgwater Way'’ .
Network Hierarchy
Somerset County Council is responsible for managing a very diverse range of roads –
everything from urban dual carriageways through to minor country lanes. In network
management terms, it would be both inappropriate and unaffordable to treat all roads the
same. Therefore there is a need to understand which routes on the network are most critical
to the successful implementation of the Network Management Duty.
In order to define the user function of individual roads a network hierarchy has been
developed taking into account the national publication Well Maintained Highways - Code
(12)
of Practice for Highway Maintenance Management .
Somerset County Council’s policy is to give priority to maintaining, managing and improving
its roads in accordance with the network hierarchy, which also provides the basis for
developing policies on traffic management (especially for freight), maintenance, setting
speed limits, parking and frontage access. It enables investment in highway improvements
to be targeted where it will have most impact on people’s ability to travel safely and efficiently
on the network.
The categorisation of roads depends on a number of different factors that reflect needs,
priorities and usage, including:
Access to local communities;
Winter maintenance requirements; and
Traffic patterns.
Non-vehicular traffic factors such as pedestrian usage are also considered. As there can
be different priorities for carriageways, footways and cycleways, separate hierarchies are
defined.
Table 3.2 describes each of the tiers in the network hierarchy for carriageways (excluding
motorways and trunk roads). Figure 3.1 outlines the hierarchy on a map of the administrative
county.
Categories 2 and 3a in the Network Hierarchy defined in Table 3.2 are the highways that,
together with Motorway and Trunk Roads, comprise the National Primary and County Route
Network. In Somerset this is made up of the M5, A37, A38, A39, A3088, A358 and A303.
Strategic routes cater for both the local community and long distance connections. They
are the main road network for inter-urban travel, strategic freight movement (including port
and airport access) and tourist travel but also enable trips between local communities to
be made easily and efficiently.
10 http://www.movingsomersetforward.co.uk/
11 Local Sustainable Transport Fund project to make cycling and walking in Bridgwater
easier and safer
12 Drafted by Atkins on behalf of the UK Roads Board, July 2005
18
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Hierarchy
Category
Type of
Road
Basic Description
Inspection
Frequency
(Months)
2 - Strategic
Routes
National
primary,
county,
regional and
freight routes
3a - Main
Distributor
Heavily
Roads connecting the larger towns and
1
trafficked
industrial estates to each other and to the
routes, freight strategic routes.
and major
bus routes
3b Secondary
Distributor
Other heavily Important links in the network connecting
trafficked
towns and larger villages.
routes
4a – Linking
Road
4bi –
Local
Collector
Road
4bii (C) and
(D) -Local
Access
Road(sub-divided
between
urban and
rural)
Roads forming the strategic backbone of 1
the network; catering for HGVs and longer
distance traffic; connecting Somerset to
adjoining counties and national road
network.
1
In rural areas these link the smaller villages 3
to the distributor road network. In urban
areas they are residential or industrial
inter-connecting roads with 30mph limits.
Roads
performing a
largely local
function
Roads within towns and urban areas and 6
roads that connect larger villages and
industrial estates to the road network. They
feed traffic from villages and hamlets and
sometimes the wider rural area to the
higher category roads. They may also form
short cuts between higher categories of
road but with insufficient use to be classed
as aLinking Road.
Roads
providing
access from
communities
to the local
distributor
road network
and
residential
roads within
local
communities
Roads serving villages and connecting
6 urban
communities and smaller industrial estates
12 rural
to the distributor road network. In urban
areas Local Collector Roads are generally
the through roads in housing estates or
small industrial estates feeding traffic from
the smaller roads and cul-de-sacs to the
higher category roads.
Table 3.2 Somerset County Council Network Hierarchy
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
19
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
With appropriate signing, strategic routes help to reduce the overall impact of freight
movements by concentrating such traffic onto those parts of the network most able to
accommodate it (in capacity and environmental terms) and limiting use of the lower
categories of road to the beginning and end of journeys.
Additional freight routing tools have been developed, so that when HGVs have to go beyond
the strategic routes they use the most appropriate roads. In partnership with the road
haulage industry, neighbouring local transport authorities and the police, Somerset County
Council has developed the Somerset Freight Map, shown in Figure 3.2. The map details
national, county and local freight routes as well as other useful information, such as Traffic
Regulation Orders.
In addition, a Regional Freight Map (see Figure 3.3) has been developed through the South
(13)
West Regional Freight Forum
in order to ensure regional consistency when identifying
investment priorities and promoting appropriate routing of HGV traffic. The routes identified
are based on HGV flows and aim to provide a suitable network for countywide movements
that cannot be served by the strategic routes.
Finally, it is generally felt that the code of practice places insufficient emphasis on the
importance of some of the local access roads (Category 4b) found in very rural counties
such as Somerset and that many of these roads need a more frequent inspection than the
12 months proposed in the document. This has resulted in Category 4b roads in Somerset
being subdivided into local collector roads (4bi) and local access roads (4bii).
13 The Regional Freight Forum involves all local authorities within the South West and
representatives of regional and industry bodies.
20
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Figure 3.1 Somerset Network Hierarchy
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
21
Figure 3.2 Somerset Freight Map
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
22
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Figure 3.3 Regional Freight Map
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
23
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Footway and Cycleway Hierarchies
Footway and cycleway hierarchies have also been developed taking into account Well
(14)
Maintained Highways – Code of Practice for Highway Maintenance Management .
A hierarchy of footways in the centre of urban areas and the larger villages has been
established based on the importance and character of the footway rather than pedestrian
counts which can give variable results.
Table 2.3: Somerset Footway Hierarchy
Description
Category
Busy, main shopping, town centre
F1
Other shopping, well used, urban
F2
Other urban, busy village
F3
Little used urban and rural
F4
Table 3.3
Cycleways are categorised by location in relation to the highway network, as the level of
wear is generally low and the greatest maintenance need is normally to combat overgrown
vegetation.
Table 2.4: Somerset Cycleway Hierarchy
Description
Category
Both on and remote from carriageway
A and B
Trails
C
Table 3.4
(15)
The Transport Asset Management Plan
(2010) contains information about the
maintenance of footways and cycleways. Both hierarchies are regularly reviewed to include
newly identified walking and cycling routes. Potentially they can be used to assess whether
more targeted revenue maintenance activities will assist in generating more usage. Work
on the refinement of the footway hierarchy is included in the Action Plan in Appendix A.
Traffic Growth and Congestion Management
The purpose of managing traffic growth is to maintain and, where possible, improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of the transport network, thereby supporting economic growth,
14 See footnote 10
15 See footnote 5
24
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
land use development and accessibility. Traffic management measures can also alleviate
the effects of poor air quality produced by slow moving traffic in congested areas with
detrimental health outcomes for residents and others who may be exposed to it.
Policies to manage traffic growth create a range of further benefits, for example:
Improvements to road safety;
Reductions in growth of CO2 emissions;
Provision of more road space and better facilities and information for public transport,
cyclists and pedestrians leading to increased choice, less pollution and healthier
lifestyles;
Reductions in community severance;
Improvements in the public realm; and
Reductions in growth of noise emissions and other adverse impacts of traffic.
A continuing programme of improvements to the transport network has been introduced
with the aim of ensuring that traffic flows freely on the local network and that people are
able to walk and cycle with ease and safety. Measures include: Junction capacity improvements;
Urban Traffic Control via traffic signals;
More and better road crossings;
Traffic calming on appropriate routes;
Improved routes to schools;
Improved routes for buses including bus gates;
Improved routes for cyclists including more cycle parking; and
Improved routes for pedestrians including facilities for people with mobility problems.
Additional measures are proposed through the mechanisms of Somerset’s Future Transport
Plan and the transport strategies for the larger urban areas. The majority of funding for new
measures will come via the Local Enterprise Partnership.
Analysis of real time travel data (from Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras for
example) and output from transport models allow transport links and junctions to be assessed
for delays and journey time reliability. Priority is given to ensuring that junctions along a
corridor are working for all modes of transport and that there are no pinch points where the
flow of traffic is significantly disrupted. Improvements to junctions may be implemented
when justified by cost benefit analyses.
Somerset County Council endeavours to reduce demand for single occupancy car travel
across the county by promoting more economically efficient and sustainable travel
alternatives such as walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing through the Moving
(16)
Somerset Forward brand and The Bridgwater Way .
Public transport is also disadvantaged by congested networks. Somerset County Council
seeks to ensure that wherever possible the needs of buses are balanced with those of other
traffic through “design for the bus”, a process in which schemes are drawn up to improve
the design of the highway relative to the bus in locations where buses are being delayed.
16 See footnote 11
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
25
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Within Somerset, the intention of the planning authorities is to concentrate housing and
economic growth in strategically significant towns and market towns. This will help to
maximise the potential for self-containment of these settlements and the use of public
transport, walking and cycling for local journeys within them. While this approach will help
to reduce the transport impacts, Somerset’s most substantial congestion already occurs in
the larger urban centres of Taunton, Bridgwater and Yeovil and the levels of growth planned
will put further pressure on the networks managed by Somerset County Council and the
Highways Agency, presenting a significant challenge to delivering the Network Management
Duty.
The impacts of new development are assessed through Transport Assessments which are
produced with supporting Travel Plans by developers in line with national and local guidance.
Transport Assessments are carefully scrutinised by Highways Development Control as
developments that impact on our ability to manage traffic and travel on the network require
mitigation measures.
Civil Parking Enforcement
Without enforcement of parking restrictions, the objectives of the Network Management
Duty would be compromised as a result of illegally parked vehicles reducing the traffic
carrying capacity of the network.
The Traffic Management Act of 2004 provides for the introduction of Civil Parking
Enforcement whereby the responsibility for the enforcement of most on-street parking
regulations are transferred from the Police to the Local Authority, bringing the enforcement
of car park and on-street regulations within the same procedures.
Civil Parking Enforcement was introduced in Somerset in June 2012. The new service
applies to parking contraventions on-street throughout the County and in car parks in
Taunton Deane, Sedgemoor and Mendip districts. South Somerset and West Somerset
Councils decided to introduce their own Civil Parking Enforcement service for enforcement
in their car parks.
The County Council’s current service provider is the biggest provider of parking enforcement
services for local authorities in the UK. County Council officers have drawn on its national
experience to set up systems and procedures for an efficient and effective service. The
latest technology is used to record contraventions and process penalties efficiently and
cost effectively.
Civil Enforcement Officers patrol streets with ‘pay and display’ parking, double yellow lines
and other restrictions (such as residents’ parking) as well as the off-street car parks. They
check whether cars are parked legally and safely and can serve Penalty Charge Notices
to vehicles that are contravening parking restrictions. The patrols are undertaken on foot,
by bicycle, scooter or car as appropriate to the location and officers wear a Somerset County
Council/Contractor and District Council branded uniform.
Enforcement Officers also give directions, advise on where to park legally, and act as the
“eyes and ears” for local authorities for a range of services, including reporting faults on
signs and maintaining pay and display machines. Penalty Charge Notices are set at between
26
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
£50 and £70, but are reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days. The proceeds are used to
fund the service, with any remainder being used to fund local parking and transport
improvements.
The service also includes facilities for the enforcement of bus gates using automatic number
plate recognition cameras. These cameras are being introduced in all bus gates in the
County. Penalty charges for bus lane contraventions have been set at £60 with a 50%
reduction for early payment.
Under the Civil Parking Enforcement regime Somerset local authorities are able to ensure
that parking policies are implemented effectively, with the consequent benefits of improved
traffic flow, fewer accidents, a fairer distribution of available parking places and a more
pleasant environment.
Development Management
Somerset County Council, as the Local Highway Authority, is legally responsible for
implementing planning and highways development control policies through its Traffic and
Transport Development Group. Somerset experiences considerable pressure for both
commercial and residential development, which generates additional travel demand. Most
major strategic developments are in areas where the highway network is at or near capacity,
so the implications for network management are of critical importance.
Incremental development is currently managed through the planning process which seeks
to mitigate development impacts by working with developers to secure travel plans and
related planning obligations. The Traffic and Transport Development Group takes the lead
role in securing appropriate highway infrastructure to mitigate the pressure of increased
traffic on the network.
Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 allows a local planning authority
to enter into a legally binding agreement with a developer requiring them to provide works
and/or financial contributions to overcome what would otherwise be objections to granting
planning permission. Section 106 planning obligations can include sums of money for
transport infrastructure and/or service improvements and/or physical works.
Since April 2014, the ability to pool planning obligations under Section 106 of the Town and
Country Planning Act 1990 has been restricted although Section 106 continues to be used
to deliver specific and necessitated infrastructure.
In April 2014 the Community Infrastructure Levy was introduced under the Planning Act
2008 and defined in the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (amended 2011).
Essentially the Community Infrastructure Levy is a tariff-based approach to assist in funding
infrastructure associated with planned growth. Local planning authorities can elect to charge
the levy on most new development with certain exemptions. The money raised is used to
deliver prioritised infrastructure identified in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan that supports
the growth proposals set out in the Council’s Core Strategy.
Somerset County Council works closely with district councils to ensure that funding
contributions secured via the Community Infrastructure Levy are linked to the district
Infrastructure Delivery Plan.
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
27
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Where development necessitates highway works that are not secured by Section106
agreements, Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980, as amended by Section 23 of the New
Roads and Street Works Act 1991, can be used. These agreements provide a mechanism
for ensuring delivery of mitigation works identified as necessary for planning permission to
be granted.
Clauses within Section 106 and Section 278 agreements may relate to various requirements
of the Traffic Management Act. In particular, the Act refers to carrying out development
related highway works in accordance with an approved programme. Restrictions may be
placed on the timing of works on the highways in accordance with noticing procedures
required by the Act.
The Network Management Duty is placed alongside other matters that the County Council
has to consider, including economic regeneration and the need to accommodate more
housing. It is inevitable that there is disruption to the flow of traffic during the construction
of developments and new highway infrastructure, but the Council seeks to minimise this
by forward planning, co-ordination and close management of works programmes.
The Future Transport Plan Technical Note ’Transport and Development’ sets out in full the
County Council’s policy approach, as the transport authority for Somerset, that informs
advice to all parties involved in transport and development.
Speed Management
Vehicle speed is a major concern to many residents in Somerset and the Council considers
it important to address these concerns with a consistent and robust strategy that balances
safety with mobility for all road users.
National speed limits are those set by the government for different road types:
30mph on roads with street lighting;
60mph on single carriageway roads; and
70mph on dual carriageways and motorways
Local traffic authorities can set local speed limits on lengths of road usually greater than
600m where local risk factors and other road conditions suggest that the limit should differ
from those listed above. In January 2013 the Department for Transport issued circular
(17)
01/2013 “Setting Local Speed Limits”
to be used for setting all local restrictions on single
and dual carriageway roads in both urban and rural areas. Effective speed management,
the guidance states, is part of creating a safe road environment due to the strong correlation
that has been demonstrated between vehicle speed, the likelihood of collision and severity
of injury. As a general rule for every 1 mph reduction in average speed, collision frequency
(18)
reduces by around 5% .
Members of the public can use the online facilities provided on Somerset County Council’s
17 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/setting-local-speed-limits
18 (Taylor, Lynam and Baruya, 2000) TRL Report 421 – The Effects of Drivers' Speed
on the Frequency of Road Accidents. Crowthorne: TRL
28
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
(19)
website
to request a change in a speed limit. Any changes to or implementation of speed
limits should be in accordance with the latest Department for Transport guidance. Where
there is strong local support, funding may be provided by the community through parish
councils.
The Speed Management Strategy aims to achieve the following objectives throughout
Somerset:
Appropriate local speed limits;
Improvements to driver/rider behaviour;
Efficient traffic flow;
Reduced risk to all road users; and
A safer, calmer environment.
The objectives of the strategy are:
Continued reductions in collisions and casualties;
Local speed limits that best reflect the needs of all road users;
Increased use of sustainable modes of transport;
Reduced demand on public health and emergency services;
Quality of life improvements for local communities based on a better balance between
road safety, accessibility and environmental objectives; and
Improved recognition and understanding by all road users of the risks of using different
types of road and the speed limits that apply.
Vehicle Activated Signs and Speed Indicator Devices
Vehicle activated signs, triggered by an approaching vehicle, can help address problems
of inappropriate speeds. These signs, which can be permanent or temporary, are used as
additional measures to remind drivers of the speed limit that is in force. They have been
found to be particularly effective in rural locations. Guidance is provided in Traffic Advisory
(20)
Leaflet 01/03 .
Permanent vehicle activated signs are used to warn road users of specific hazards such
as sharp bends or hidden junctions. They can only be installed as part of a road safety
scheme where there is evidence of a personal injury accident problem associated with
inappropriate speed has not been satisfactorily remedied by conventional methods.
Applications for permanent signs in locations that meet the set criteria may be submitted
through Parish Councils.
Many locations throughout the County that do not meet the requirements for a permanent
sign could nevertheless benefit from a temporary vehicle activated sign, some of which
have been especially designed to address problems of inappropriate speeds and are referred
to as ‘speed indicator devices’. Since 2009 a number of speed indicator devices have been
installed in Somerset at locations identified by Somerset Road Safety and as a result of
requests from local communities willing to fund and operate the equipment themselves.
19 http://www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-transport/signs-and-road-markings/apply-for-a-new-speed-limit/
20 http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/tal-1-03/tal-1-03.pdf
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
29
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Currently the County Council, as the Highway Authority, purchases and retains overall
control of speed indicator devices on its road network. Consideration is however being
given to allowing communities to manage these types of signs themselves, although plans
for this arrangement are still in their infancy.
Temporary speed indicator devices are only considered where there is a posted speed limit
and/or a proven problem with inappropriate speeds. The latter is identified where 85th
percentile speeds are found to be 10% + 3mph higher than the posted speed limit (i.e. 36
mph in a 30mph limit and 47mph in a 40mph limit). The devices record the speeds of every
vehicle that passes, providing data which is published in reports to Parish and Town
Councils.
Traffic Calming
Somerset County Council employs traffic calming measures (i.e. physical alterations to the
road environment) in order to improve safety, reduce vehicle speeds and enhance the
environment. The implementation of all traffic calming is governed by The Highways (Road
(21)
Humps) Regulations
(1999). The most common types of traffic calming measures are:
Vertical deflections such as speed humps, platforms and cushions. The latter allow
buses, HGVs and emergency vehicles to pass over with minimal discomfort;
Horizontal deflection such as chicanes used on wider roads and mini-roundabouts;
and
Features to heighten driver awareness such as coloured or anti-skid surfacing and
gateways.
20mph Limits and Zones
Central government advises traffic authorities to keep local speed limits under review and
to consider the introduction of more 20mph limits and zones.
20mph zones are, usually, residential areas subject to a 20mph speed restriction. The limit
is generally supported by the installation of physical traffic calming measures such as road
humps or cushions, raised junctions, build-outs and/or chicanes. 20mph zones have proved
to be extremely effective in reducing vehicle speeds and road casualties. A 1996 TRL
(22)
report
found injury accidents to be reduced by 60% overall and child injury accidents by
67%. The disadvantages of such schemes are mainly environmental. The traffic calming
measures can be perceived as unattractive and responsible for increases in noise, exhaust
emissions, ground borne vibration and delays to emergency services. As a result, not all
residents and road users are supportive of such schemes.
20mph limits can be imposed on a single street or a number of connecting streets but the
restriction is governed by signs at the entry junction and repeater signs on the streets.
Physical traffic calming is not employed. Early evidence from pilot studies suggests that
20mph limits alone have little impact on casualty rates and generally lead to reductions in
mean speeds of less than 2mph. The guidance in “Setting Local Speed Limits” advises that
21 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1025/pdfs/uksi_19991025_en.pdf
22 D. Webster and A. Mackie (Transport Research Laboratory, 1996)
http://www.roadsafetyobservatory.com/Evidence/Details/10320
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Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
20mph limits should only be used where the existing mean speed is 24mph or less and the
character of the road clearly indicates to drivers that a low speed is appropriate. Minor
engineering measures may be employed if speeds above 24mph persist in isolated locations
within the area of the 20mph limit.
Somerset County Council has a history of successful investment in road safety schemes
based on education, engineering and enforcement techniques. Somerset’s Road Safety
(23)
Strategy
(2013) sets out casualty reduction targets for 2020 and the policies that are
designed to achieve them. The Council recognises that 20mph zones and 20mph limits are
a useful additional measure to help improve road safety as long as they are implemented
in suitable locations. Based on the guidance in “Setting Local Speed Limits” (Circular
01/13)the County Council has agreed a set of criteria to be taken into account in making
decisions on where to implement 20mph zones and 20mph limits in Somerset.
For a 20mph zone the key criteria to consider are:
The roads should be subject to an existing 30mph restriction;
There should be a proven history of collisions between vehicles and vulnerable road
users;
The roads should be either major streets with significant numbers of pedestrians and
cyclists OR residential streets in towns or villages that are used by pedestrians and
cyclists. In the latter case the scheme should have community support and suitable
characteristics;
There should be a suitable alternative route for drivers to avoid the zone; and
The use of traffic calming features should be supported by the emergency services.
20mph zones can also be considered for new residential estates where the design of access
and internal roads can ensure that the zone is self-enforcing.
For a 20mph limit the key criteria to consider are:
The roads should not have a strategic function and the movement of vehicles should
not be the primary function;
Existing mean speeds should not be more than 24mph; and
In rural areas, the location should meet the definition of a village given in Traffic Advisory
(24)
Leaflet 01/04 ‘Village Speed Limits’
i.e. there should be at least 20 houses and a
600 metre length of road.
Somerset County Council will consider requests for 20mph zones and limits alongside other
options for improving the safety of vulnerable road users. Such schemes have to compete
for access to funding allocated to small improvement schemes of this type. It is also possible
that some 20mph schemes may be eligible for developer funding or, where schemes are
strongly supported by local communities, funding may be provided by the community through
parish councils.
Ongoing monitoring of 20mph schemes using road safety and speed data will inform the
development of this policy and enable the criteria to be refined in the light of experience.
23 https://www.somerset.gov.uk/transportstrategy
24 http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/traffic-advisory-leaflets/villagespeedlimits.pdf
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4 Tactical Network Management
Introduction
The purpose of tactical network management is to enable Somerset County Council to deal
with a wide range of planned activities that could reduce highway capacity and impact on
the movement of traffic and people.
These activities encompass:
Highway maintenance and development works;
Works to utilities (such as gas pipes, water mains, telephone equipment etc.) buried
under the highway;
Building works adjacent to the highway that affect its operation; and
Special events that temporarily occupy highway space.
All of the above activities are reasonably predictable and it is therefore the duty of the
County Council and its partners to use advanced planning, co-ordination and information
provision to minimise their duration and impact on motorised vehicles, cyclists and
pedestrians. The Traffic Manager works with the Street Works Manager and Network
Management team to deliver a coordinated, planned and effective response using legislation
in the New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA).
This chapter sets out the County Council’s guidelines for tactical network management in
relation to planned activities. The guidelines are intended to be practical and clearly set out
what each responsible authority needs to do in order to keep traffic moving.
Compliance with New Roads and Street Works Act
(25)
Part III of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991
(as amended by the Traffic
Management Act 2004) provides the framework for the rules and regulations within which
works promoters and their contractors operate.
This framework includes noticing (i.e. booking road space to undertake specific works) and
the length of time the road may be occupied, as well as the specification for reinstating the
road and qualifications required for operatives and supervisors. The framework also provides
for prosecution if necessary.
The New Roads and Street Works Act and the Traffic Management Act require all works
promoters on the highway to co-operate with the County Council’s Network Management
team which, in turn, has responsibility to coordinate the works.
Increased powers that allow the County Council to direct the timing of works and the
placement of apparatus are contained in Sections 43 and 44 of the Traffic Management
Act. Council policy is to seek agreement with works promoters regarding the timing and
duration of works. However, there may be occasions where the powers to direct are
employed in order to minimise disruption to the travelling public. On such occasions the
Council will make it clear why this action has been taken.
25 http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1991/ukpga_19910022_en_5#pt3-pb3-l1g54
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Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
The Network Management team ensures that there is consistent treatment (i.e. parity) of
all works promoters carrying out activities on the network, including the Council and its
contractors. By applying the same rules and demanding the same standards from all, we
improve the safety of the travelling public and reduce the number of failed reinstatements.
Travel disruption is minimised by improved co-ordination of the works. The policy also
demonstrates to works promoters that the rules are fairly applied.
The County Council requires all individuals and organisations to fully comply with the Code
of Practice for the Coordination of Street Works and Works for Road Purposes and Related
(26)
Matters 4th ed. (October 2012) .
Notice System
The County Council must be provided with the notices for planned works within the minimum
times specified in the legislation. A longer notice period is always advisable, as this will
allow more time to investigate whether other works could be undertaken at the same time,
potentially minimising disruption.
The County Council shares road space booking information with the Highways Agency and
other adjoining local traffic authorities in order to assist with forward planning and
coordination.
Enforcement under New Roads and Street Works Act
Somerset County Council takes enforcement very seriously and is pro-active in using the
New Roads and Street Works Act effectively. To that end, NRSWA inspectors are employed
by the Council and charged with monitoring the performance of works promoters. The Street
Works inspectors also have legal powers to carry out random sample inspections and to
intervene where illegal or dangerous sites are identified.
Enforcement proceedings against offenders are considered on a case by case basis. Where
the safety of the public is at risk or where an unacceptable level of disruption is created,
the Street Works inspectors may instruct the offender to either make the site safe or vacate
it. The Street Works Manager liaises with Somerset County Council’s legal department
should there be a need to carry out prosecutions.
Permits
Section 32 of the Traffic Management Act gives the County Council the power to introduce
permit schemes to regulate and control specified street works in specified streets and/or
areas. At present Council officers have concerns about the more onerous administration
requirements that will result from a formal permit scheme. Therefore we are monitoring
developments in this area and reviewing whether a permit scheme is appropriate on a
regular basis.
Reinstatements
The type of reinstatement required for a road opening made under NRSWA is determined
by its reinstatement category, which is assigned to each street. The reinstatement category
26 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/street-works-co-ordination
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
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forms part of the associated street data linked to the street gazetteer. The categories are
defined in bands – A, B, C and D – and are determined by the loading over a given time
period, measured in Millions of Standard Axles.
The County Council requires reinstatements to be undertaken to the standards required
by the relevant reinstatement category. This is to ensure that the life of the highway asset
is maintained, and not diminished, as a result of road works.
Improving Joint Working on the Highway
In April 2001, the then Department for the Environment, Transport & Regions published
(27)
guidance on Best Practice in Street Works and Highway Works . This document outlines
a number of methods of improving the standard of street works and reducing their impact
on road users. It is Council policy to encourage all works promoters, and their contractors,
to work together to implement the practices outlined in this guidance.
Trench Sharing and ‘Trenchless’ Technology
Trench sharing occurs when two or more works promoters use the same road opening to
undertake their relevant works. It requires co-operation between the relevant works
promoters and contractors and involves considerable coordination and planning. Whilst
good practice, it is not always a viable option for technical and practical reasons. However,
the County Council does encourage and direct both its own contractors and other works
promoters to share sites to in order to avoid repeat visits and therefore minimise travel
disruption.
Any street works on busy roads are likely to cause severe problems in terms of traffic
congestion. In these instances, the use of trenchless and keyhole technologies can provide
a solution.
Quality Assurance
The quality of both the street works being undertaken and associated issues such as signing,
guarding and lighting is important for the safety and convenience of the travelling public.
The New Roads and Street Works Act determines that operatives must be trained and have
accredited supervision.
Although the County Council cannot prosecute its own contractors for New Roads and
Street Works Act breaches, the same standards are now being applied to all contractors
working on the highway, in accordance with the requirement of the Traffic Management
Act for parity. These requirements are included within the Term Maintenance Contract
tender documents.
Section 41 of the Traffic Management Act introduces fixed penalty notices for a number of
offences under the New Roads and Street Works Act. Somerset County Council monitors
the performance of both works promoters and its own contractors prior to instigating any
fixed penalty notices. In addition, the Network Management team maintains a record of
performance on works and projects to enable collection of evidence to illustrate parity. This
27 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/street-works-best-practice
34
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
includes work carried out by the County Council, utility companies and developers.
Enforcement action is considered if any organisation (including the County Council) fails
to adhere to the guidelines set out above.
The Street Works Manager also monitors compliance with New Roads and Street Works
Act regulations of all street works. Every month, a report is prepared giving a breakdown
of non-compliant works by utility/contractor and council section. This is enabling the County
Council to intervene, if necessary, to ensure poor performance is addressed at an early
stage.
Provisional Programming and Budget Approvals
Forward planning and programming is essential to enable effective coordination of work
on the network. Constraints on financial procedures for local traffic authorities can be an
issue – for example confirmation of capital budget for the following financial years can
sometimes allow little time for planning and coordination of major works. The move towards
three year capital budgets is therefore a very welcome development for effective longer
term planning of works.
Training and Accreditation
Somerset County Council policy is that anyone undertaking works or activities on the network
must be suitably trained and qualified in that activity. New Roads and Street Works Act
regulations for the qualifications of operatives are applied to all activities.
(28)
Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual
(Part 2, Section O6.2) requires that, to protect the
workforce and the public, accreditation is needed for a works promoter intending to sign,
light and guard any part of the highway.
County Council Streetworks Inspectors are trained in accordance with the requirements of
SI 2009/2257The Street Works (Qualification of Supervisors and Operatives) Regulations
(29)
2009 . Contractors wishing to carry out works on the highway (under licence) are also
be required to be trained and certificated in the type of work they are undertaking.
Register of Street Works
(30)
Somerset County Council maintains a publicly available Register of Street Works
which
provides a single source of information on ongoing or planned works by statutory undertakers
and highway authorities, alongside a list of all streets in Somerset.The register includes:
street works carried out by utilities; road works carried out by Somerset County Council;
and skip, scaffolding and private street works (covered under Section 50 of the New Roads
and Street Works Act).
All organisations working on the highway must ensure that they provide the required
information for the Register of Street Works, as set out in section 3.5 of the Code of Practice
(31)
for the Co-Ordination of Street Works and Works for Road Purposes and Related Matters .
28
29
30
31
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tss/tsmanual/
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/2257/contents/made
http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/roads/
See reference 25
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
35
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
All maintenance works issued to the County Council’s term maintenance contractor are
raised using the electronic works ordering system which automatically notifies the Register
of any activity.
Highways Scheme Proposal Register
The Highway Scheme Proposal Registeris a unique map-based co-ordination tool that
enables staff to record proposed schemes, including location, timescale and duration
including:
Proposals being developed by the County Council;
Works by statutory undertakers; and
Other events and activities affecting the highway (especially where there is likely to be
a closure or significant traffic disruption).
Each scheme is depicted as a polygon on a map showing where and how much of the
highway is affected. Use of the Proposal Register has delivered:
Better co-ordination and integration of all scheme works;
Reduced cost, waste, disruption, congestion, pollution and environmental damage;
and
Better stakeholder satisfaction and public relations.
Figure 4.1 Extract from Highway Scheme Proposal Register
36
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Somerset County Council policy is to require all staff to update the Highway Scheme
Proposal Register on a regular basis so that there is a complete map-based record of works
available to the Traffic Management service.
Electronic Transfer of Notices Registering and Coordination Systems
To aid the administration and coordination of street works, the County Council has introduced
a number of electronic systems. The Council currently uses Confirm software for the
maintenance and management of the Street Works Register to ensure compliance with
Electronic Transfer of Notices (EToN) and NRSWA Section 53 legislation. This software
allows the electronic posting and routing of street works notices and management of
(32)
inspection results. Diagrams may be found in the EToN Technical Specification .
The Council has secured an information flow from the National Traffic Control Centre
planning database, enabling coordination with Highways Agency planned works. All local
roadworks information is disseminated using the nationally recognised Elgin roadworks
(33)
website .
National Street Gazetteer
(34)
The National Street Gazetteer
is the definitive reference system used in the notification
process and the coordination of street works. Somerset has produced a fully functional
Level 3 National Street Gazetteer.
Each local highway authority in England and Wales is required to create and maintain its
own Local Street Gazetteer and Associated Street Data. Somerset’s Local Street Gazetteer
contains 13465 unique streets, 40541 elementary street units and has a total length of 7622
km, of which 6641 km are publicly maintained, making it one of the largest highway authority
networks in the country.
The National Street Gazetteer is a part of the framework to maintain a fully functional Street
Works Register, which includes Traffic Sensitive Streets.
Utility Infrastructure Providers
Legislation allows companies acting as utility infrastructure providers to provide and connect
to statutory undertakers’ apparatus (in particular in new developments). The County Council
requires street works carried out by these companies to be administered under Section 50
of the NRSWA whereby a street works licence needs to be granted. Utility infrastructure
providers are required to work to the same guidelines as utilities and the Council’s own
contractors.
County Council Coordination Activity
Somerset County Council is pro-active in developing and implementing formal procedures
that enable the coordination function of the NRSWA to be effectively discharged. All works
promoters are expected to cooperate fully with the County Council.
32 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/network/local/streetworks/cop/pdfelectronictransnotices.pdf
33 http://roadworks.org/
34 http://www.thensg.org.uk/iansg/welcome.htm
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
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To ensure that street works are coordinated effectively the Council:
Participates in the South West Regional Highways and Utilities Committee, held
approximately every three months. This meeting brings together representatives from
Councils across the South West region and statutory undertakers operating in the
region. Regional issues relating to street works are discussed and feedback is offered
upwards to the National Highways and Utilities Committee and downward to Councils
and works promoters;
Participates in the Joint Authorities Group South West meeting, the local authority side
of the South West Highways and Utilities Committee. It exists to discuss issues and
strategy relating to street works;
Manages and facilitates the County Council Coordination / Highways and Utilities
Committee meeting. This brings together County Council officers, Highways Agency
representatives, the Police and utility companies operating within Somerset; and
Attends the South West Traffic Managers Group. This brings together all Traffic
Managers in the region, including the Highways Agency Performance Managers. This
is an opportunity to share emerging best practice in implementing the Traffic
Management Act and delivering the Network Management Duty.
Communication and Joint Working
Forward planning and programming is key to effective network management. All works
promoters are expected to table their forward plans at regular planning and coordination
meetings, in order to avoid possible conflicts on the network.
Somerset County Council and the Highways Agency have jointly developed a Detailed
Local Operating Agreement whichis based on the principle that there is one integrated
network available for the travelling public irrespective of geographic or functional boundaries.
The agreement aims to enable both authorities to provide mutual support and cooperation
in managing the network. The Highways Agency is in the process of updating this system.
The practical ways in which the County Council and the Highways Agency will work together
are clearly spelled out:
Contact details;
Operating procedures – especially flow of information;
Planned road works;
Incident management;
Tactical diversion routes;
Setting of Variable Message Signs;
Media co-ordination;
Police liaison; and
Evaluation and review.
The network management guidelines must fully integrate with the plans and procedures of
the Highways Agency, Police, adjoining Highway Authorities and other organisations.
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Event Management
Events on the Highway
As set out in Table 4.1, the County Council, the district councils and the Police all have
powers to authorise a road closure for a variety of planned and unplanned events.
These include special events such as:
Carnivals;
Street parties;
Demonstrations;
Events that will create significant travel demand on the highway; and
Running/cycle races.
Type of event /
reason for road
closure
Emergencies
Close
Road?
Yes
(e.g. accidents)
Legislation/Guidance
Procedure
Road Traffic Regulation Police close road
Act 1984 Section 67
immediately for up to 7
days
Police Road Block
Yes – can Road Traffic Act 1988
stop
a l l Section 163
traffic or be
selective
Police close road
immediately for up to 7
days (extendable)
Police Road Block
Stop certain Police and Criminal
vehicles
Evidence Act 1984
Section 4
(e.g. if
matching
specific
description)
Police close road
immediately for up to 7
days (extendable)
Terrorism
Yes
Terrorism Act 2000
Police close road
Sections 33-36 & 48-52 immediately for up to 28
days (extendable)
Suspected Imminent
Breach of the Peace
Yes
Common Law
Police may close road
immediately
Highway Nuisance
Yes
Highways Act 1980
Section 333
SCC Highways close
road immediately to make
highway safe
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Type of event /
reason for road
closure
Street Works – road
closure necessary
(road/
Close
Road?
Yes
Legislation/Guidance
Procedure
Road Traffic Regulation SCC – Street Works team
Act 1984 s14(1)(a) or
apply for temporary
14(2)(b)
Traffic Regulation Order
Or close road by notice at
any time s14(2)(5/21
days)
part of road closed in
one location/district)
Highway Safety –
other than street
works, e.g. events
without “throng” or
“rejoicing”
Yes
Road Traffic Regulation SCC apply for temporary
Act Section14(1)(b)
Traffic Regulation Order
[order] or 14(2)(b)
Or close road by notice at
[notice]
any time s14(2) for up to
5 days (21 days if
danger/damage
Cycle event on open
highway with fewer
than 100 competitors
(possibly across
several districts)
No – but
competitors
must abide
by Highway
Code as
roads open
to all traffic
Cycle Racing on
Highways Regulations
1960 and Good
Practice Safety Guide
Police give authorisation
(with SCC Consultation)
“Throng” resulting
Yes
from “illuminations”
etc on the highway
with public spectators
(e.g. carnivals)
Town Police Clauses
District Council make
(35)
Act 1847
Section 21 TPCA Order (with Police
and Good Practice
& SCC consultation)
Safety Guide
Special Events on
Yes
(not just near) closed
roads involving long
routes possibly
across several
districts (e.g. Tour of
Britain)
Road Traffic Regulation SCC make Traffic
Act Sections 16A , 16B, Regulation Order (with
& 16C and Good
Police Consultation)
Practice Safety Guide
Table 4.1 Road Closure Powers for Planned and Unplanned Events
The Traffic Management service has a database of all known events which may be small
scale or big occasions with hundreds of thousands of participants resulting in significant
impacts on the highway network. Information held includes:
35 The use of the 1847 Act for road closures is being discouraged in favour of the Road
Traffic Regulation Act 1984
40
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Description of the event;
Frequency and durations;
Week number;
Date range; and
Details of streets affected.
If an event is held on the highway or road, the responsibility for public safety rests with the
organiser of the event. Somerset County Council and some District Councils hold Safety
Advisory Groups to offer guidance in order to help organisers discharge their responsibilities.
Each Advisory Group includes core members from Somerset County Council’s Traffic
Management Group and Civil Contingencies Unit as well as representatives of the Fire and
Rescue and Ambulance services, the Police, the Health service and the district councils.
Representatives of other affected organisations may be invited to share their expertise with
the core members. Safety Advisory Groups meet bi-monthly to help ensure public safety
and minimise inconvenience to residents and businesses at licensable events held on the
highway.
The Home Office has issued a Good Practice Safety Guide for Small and Sporting Events
(36)
on the Highway, Roads and Public Places (2006) . It covers charity events and walks,
marches, parades and carnivals, road running and athletic events, cycle road racing and
time trials, etc. The County Council expects any organiser of such events to read and act
on the advice within this document.
Application procedures must be followed to ensure that events on the highway are
coordinated with all other activities on the network and that traffic disruption is kept to a
minimum. An application form to host events on the highway can be obtained from the
relevant district council. The district council will then consider the application after discussing
it with the County Council and the Police.
Events off the Highway
Major social and sporting events off the highway are licenced by the district council using
Temporary Event Notices introduced under the Licensing Act 2003. Events should also
have approval from the Police. As highway authority Somerset County Council must be
notified and / or consulted on the planning of the event, especially when large traffic volumes
are expected and disruption on the network is likely.
Smaller events (such as car boot sales) are not currently captured by any specific national
legislation but in some circumstances can require planning permission. Traffic congestion
caused by smaller events can be considerable but the County Council has no automatic
legal authority to manage them. It then becomes a matter for the Police to intervene as
they see fit. Improved working relationships and agreements with the district councils and
Avon and Somerset Constabulary will help resolve any congestion that these events may
cause. A special events forum is held on a regular basis.
To ensure the effective coordination of activities on the highway, the Traffic Management
service is building up a comprehensive database of locations where regular traffic generating
events occur. The aim is to develop a register of relevant information about these locations,
36 htp:/www.resourcecentre.org.uk/books/the-good-practice-safety-guide-for-smal-and-sporting-events-taking-place-on-the-highway-roads-and-public-places/
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including such information as event frequencies, event organisers, event attendances,
traffic management plans etc. This ‘live document’ record will ensure that effective planning
for and around such events is continued in the future.
Street Trading
A “Consent to Trade” licence is often required for street trading activities such as hot food
vehicles, ice cream vans and flower stalls. Food businesses may also be subject to
inspection from Environmental Health and permission to site a mobile stall may be required
from the County Council, as the Highway Authority, and from the land owner.
Street trading, street markets and other activities are licenced by the five district councils
in Somerset. However not all districts have the same procedures and specific requirements
may vary. For example, some councils such as West Somerset designate all their highways
as “consent streets”, whereas others (e.g. Mendip) limit the number of streets where trading
can take place.
Work continues with the district councils in order to ensure that street trading activities do
not impinge on motorised traffic, pedestrian and cycle movements.
Building Works Adjacent to the Highway
The Highways Act 1980 gives the County Council responsibility for the issuing of licences
granting permission to erect scaffolding, place skips etc on the highway. A fee is payable
for the licence once the County Council is satisfied that the arrangements will be safe and
that traffic flow will not be adversely affected.
The licences are recorded on the Register of Street Works and, where necessary, conditions
may be imposed which will ensure that such activities do not adversely affect the movement
of motor vehicle traffic, cyclists or pedestrians.
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5 Operational Network Management
Introduction
The Operational Network Management section describes how Somerset County Council
and its partners work together to tackle unexpected incidents and natural events that impact
on the highway network. The Council has a responsibility to ensure that such events result
in minimal disruption to traffic.
Incidents on the highway include pedestrian accidents, vehicle collisions, carriageway
failures, utilities’ apparatus failures, bridge strikes, obstructions such as fallen trees, lorries
shedding their loads, chemical spills, breakdowns, illegally parked vehicles, security alerts
and acts of vandalism. Such incidents may reduce or remove the ability of road users to
move along the highway. Events adjacent to the highway (such as fires in buildings or in
fields) can also affect movement. By their very nature these incidents are unpredictable
but require an immediate, pre-planned response.
Natural events can usually be forecast a short time in advance although their frequency
and duration is not easy to establish. Adverse weather conditions include snow, ice, wind,
flooding and extreme heat. Depending on the severity of the weather, roads can either be
reduced in capacity or closed altogether.
Contingency planning is the key to all the operational network management activities that
the County Council undertakes. Generic plans can be developed which cater for most, if
not every, eventuality. Annual reviews of areas of the network prone to regular unplanned
incidents will provide further information.
Incident Management
Tactical Diversion Routes
Somerset County Council and the Highways Agency have jointly developed a network of
tactical diversion routes which can be used when parts of the motorway or trunk road
network, including the M5 and A303, are closed due to incidents or planned works.
The Council has signed a formal Direct Local Operating Agreement with the Highways
Agency to cover operation, maintenance and the review of diversion routes. The work has
generated permanent diversion route signing and highlighted a number of risks associated
with the routes which, in turn, may identify infrastructure improvements or more significant
traffic management measures. These will be developed for implementation based on the
Road Network Hierarchy (Section 3). A review of the effectiveness of Direct Local Operating
Agreement procedures by Somerset County Council, the Highways Agency and the Police
will be based on responses to actual incidents.
Work on agreeing diversions for the A39 is currently in progress. The work aligns with the
development of operational plans under the Traffic Incident Management Plan that is part
of the planning consent for the construction of the new Hinkley C nuclear power plant.
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Civil Contingencies Act
Somerset County Council is a ‘Category 1 responder organisation’ under the Civil
Contingencies Act 2004 and is subject to the full set of civil protection duties. Amongst
many other duties the County Council is required to:
Assess the risk of emergencies occurring and use this to inform contingency planning;
Put in place emergency plans; and
Put in place arrangements to make information available to the public about civil
protection matters and maintain arrangements to warn inform and advise the public in
the event of an emergency.
In order to discharge its statutory duties in an effective and efficient manner, Somerset
County Council is part of a formal partnership with the five district and borough councils
within Somerset. This is known as the Somerset Local Authorities’ Civil Contingencies
Partnership. The Civil Contingencies Unit, hosted by Somerset County Council, delivers
emergency planning and business continuity activities for all six partner authorities.
Via the Civil Contingencies Unit, the County Council is part of a wider area, multi-agency
emergency planning group of organisations know as the Avon and Somerset Local Resilience
Forum which produces and maintains a Community Risk Register for the area. Current
very high risks include:
Local accident involving transport of hazardous chemicals;
Major coastal and tidal flooding;
Severe inland flooding; and
Local flooding.
The Risk Register is used to direct and inform strategic planning at the Local Resilience
Forum level, which is underpinned by individual organisations’ own tactical and operational
level plans.
The County Council (in common with the individual districts) has a generic Corporate
(37)
Emergency Response and Recovery Plan . This document sets out the policy and
practice for the organisation’s response to emergencies from the initial alert to the final
stages of recovery.
Most incidents on highways will be dealt with through the regular traffic management
procedures. However, for larger scale incidents or where major incidents are declared or
where additional coordination is required, the Corporate Emergency Response and Recovery
Plan provides the basis for the County Council’s emergency response.
The Highways Agency has responsibility for the welfare of motorists stranded on the
motorways and its strategic A-roads and the Local Highways Authority on the remainder
of the network. It is possible that the Highways Agency would request support from the
local authority to assist in caring for stranded travellers. Guidance on this issue is evolving
and it is likely that incidents would need to be managed in accordance with generic plans.
37 http://enterprise.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/corporate/environment/services/civilcontingenciesunit/
(SCC intranet site)
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Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Bridge Strikes
Oversize vehicles striking railway bridges can result in significant delay and require costly
diversions to be implemented. Damaged caused by such incidents may require extensive
remedial works with further post-incident delays. Vulnerable bridges, particularly those
below standard bridge height, are a traffic restriction which means they are dealt with as a
traffic matter. The Council is aware of the need to develop interim arrangements for its
emergency response to bridge strikes.
(38)
The DfT has published a good practice guide
for transport operators on what they can
do to avoid their vehicles hitting low bridges. Somerset County Council requires all transport
operators to use this guide and ensure that their employees are fully aware of its
recommendations.
Network Rail, the Environment Agency, District Councils, British Railways Board (Residuary)
Ltd and British Waterways all have some degree of responsibility for bridges. County Council
policy is to undertake regular liaison with other bridge owners where there are concerns
over the regularity of bridge strikes, especially where there is potential for significant traffic
disruption.
Natural Event Management
Weather Forecasting
Somerset County Council has invested in an extensive network of weather stations so that
we can provide timely warnings of severe weather conditions to the broadcast media. This
is in addition to the public severe weather warning service provided through the Met Office.
We have also invested in technology to aid the prediction of ice and have an annual contract
to provide high quality detailed forecast information and a weather consultancy service.
This service is procured on our behalf through our Highway Maintenance contract but the
forecast cannot be made available to the public for contractual reasons.
The County Council therefore has constant access to weather information, which is monitored
for the effects it may have on the highway network, enabling precautionary measures, such
as salting or road closures, to be taken. This pro-active approach ensures that council staff
and the term maintenance contractor are able to plan and prepare resources in accordance
(39)
with the Winter Service and Emergency Response Plan . Our approach does not
guarantee that the weather will never cause disruption but is intended to ensure an effective
response to keep that disruption to a minimum.
Winter Services
Daily forecasts with temperature graphs from weather stations in Somerset are used to
predict road surface temperatures. If the air is dry, frost will not form, even though the
temperature may be well below freezing point. For this reason it is important to predict both
road temperatures and air moisture content.
38 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevention-of-bridge-strikes-good-practice-guide
39 Not currently available to the public
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
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Experienced staff interpret the information and issue instructions to salt routes as required.
Instructions may vary in different parts of Somerset. Precautionary salting is carried out at
the appropriate time before frost has a chance to form.
Area based staff are employed on stand-by, including overnight and at weekends, to ensure
that any required action can be implemented immediately. The term maintenance contractor
also has operators on stand-by to respond to any given situation, be it a fallen tree or snow
fall.
The effectiveness of all actions is monitored by tracking gritting vehicles with GPS equipment,
thereby enabling the Council to determine the time and extent of treatment. Each morning
the contractor submits returns of action taken overnight so that the effectiveness of their
response can be evaluated.
If frost follows rain, or freezing occurs unexpectedly, there may be insufficient time available
to salt the whole of the priority network before motorists start their morning journeys.
Therefore, road users should not assume the routes are salted and must always proceed
with due caution.
Somerset County Council currently treats approximately 21% of the road network through
23 routes, which are reviewed annually. The following criteria are used:
Strategic and country routes;
Major settlement links;
Freight routes;
Links to settlements above 500 feet;
Emergency location links;
Urban/rural school links (major); and
Adjoining counties links.
‘Your Guide to Winter Services in Somerset 2013/2014’, is published on the County Council’s
(40)
website and provides a map of the pre-salting road network.
Network Disruption Resulting from Flooding
Somerset County Council has developed a generic plan for responding to flooding in specific
high risk areas. This is a multi-agency plan that lists the roles and responsibilities of
responders (e.g. emergency services, health organisations, local authorities) in the event
of significant flooding in Somerset. The plan focuses on six major incident plan sites.
Mutual aid is an essential element of the plans. It is apparent that individual agencies do
not have the capability to respond to large scale or multiple flood site emergencies. Therefore
the plan must be capable of being used by staff who have limited or no prior knowledge or
training; who may have come from outside of the immediate area; and who may be required
to take immediate action on behalf of their organisation.
Following the record floods in Somerset in 2014, the County Council has developed a 20
40 http://www.somerset.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/emergencies/snow-and-ice/
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Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
(41)
Year Flood Action Plan
aimed at reducing the risk of flooding and mitigating its effects.
The Plan includes actions required to increase the resilience of transport infrastructure in
order to maintain access for communities and strategic connectivity.
Abnormal Load Routes
(42)
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986
provide the basic laws by
which normal motor vehicles and trailers (up to a maximum of 40 tonnes) are built and
operate on the road.
The movement of large or heavy loads and cranes, that exceed dimensions set down in
the regulations, is permitted provided they comply with ‘Special Types General Orders’.
They are generally referred to as ‘abnormal loads’.
Abnormal loads are normally restricted to the County’s strategic “C” class roads for the
majority of their journey. However, the final destination is often off the strategic road network
and special arrangements may need to be made to ensure safe delivery. Abnormal load
routes should always be inspected by the operator in advance of a load passing along it in
order to determine any practical difficulties such as overhanging trees and whether the load
can physically pass without causing damage to the highway infrastructure or adjoining
property. The Network Management team and County Council Structure team review their
individual requirements for these abnormal loads and contact hauliers as and when required.
The Traffic Incident Management Plan, agreed as part of development consent for the
construction of the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, details how the large number
of abnormal loads associated with the construction programme will be managed.
(43)
Somerset is considering the benefits of ‘Electronic Service Delivery for Abnormal Loads’ ,
a new system promoted by the Highways Agency which simplifies the process of notifying
abnormal load movements. Using an innovative mapping system, hauliers can easily identify
the route they need to take and get full details of all the organisations they will need to notify
before making the journey. ESDAL is currently being used but not by all hauliers as system
input is purely voluntary.
41 http://somersetnewsroom.com/flood-action-plan/
42 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/made
43 https://www.esdal.com/public-3-002/index.html;jsessionid=XARnRrryVeaeTFBksHK5Sw**.EPFO3
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
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6 Information Provision and Joint Working
Introduction
Information provision to the public and joint working with other stakeholders are key
components of effective strategic, tactical and operational network management. By
influencing the way people travel, traffic growth resulting from increased network capacity
can be effectively controlled.
This chapter sets out Somerset County Council’s information provision and joint working
policies. It also highlights areas where improvements are being introduced in the near future
including the proposal to create a Traffic Control and Information Centre that will use various
technologies and data sources to enable the Council to pro-actively manage its roads and
provide meaningful and up-to-date information to road users.
Providing Information to the Public
Information Policy
Whilst disruption to the highway network is often unavoidable, with modern technology it
is possible to ensure that the general public is kept fully informed about activities, incidents
and events. The provision of information allows individual travellers to avoid disruption by
changing their route, travelling at a quieter time of day or not travelling at all. Changes in
travel patterns can help to mitigate the worst effects of the reduction in highway capacity.
The County Council has a central communications team that deals directly with all forms
of media and promotes communication in a variety of ways. This team links to
communications professionals with responsibility for traffic management communications.
All press releases and media enquiries are channelled through the central communications
team. Press activity is delivered in accordance with the County Council’s media protocols.
Somerset County Council’s corporate communications strategy is based on a belief that
good public information is connected to public satisfaction with services. Corporate
campaigns communicate a range of messages from across the Council and include those
from network management when appropriate.
Each area within the County Council, including the Traffic Management service, uses the
media when appropriate to disseminate information to the public and stakeholders. Details
(44)
of major road works are provided to TV, radio and other media outlets , allowing them
to be broadcast to a large audience.
Traffic Control and Information Centre
Funding is being sought to deliver a Traffic Control and Information Centre, a hub for
communication and joint working initiatives based in County Hall in Taunton. The full
business case for the enterprise will include proposals for using existing data to provide
better information on network management problems and the efficacy of proposed solutions.
A web based information page, incorporating real-time traffic and journey time information,
44 http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/travel/live_travel_roads_feature.shtml
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will enhance the output of the system. Proposals for an Intelligent Transport Systems
strategy that considers how existing and future resources may be combined to better serve
the travelling public will also be part of the business case.
Key objectives of the Traffic Control and Information Centre include:
Maximising the availability of information about the network and current conditions and
encouraging informed decision-making;
Enabling more efficient use of road space;
Assisting diversion strategies;
Managing congestion on key routes;
Managing extreme weather events;
Better understanding the operation and limitations of the network and the impacts of
planned and unplanned events on the network;
Enabling appropriate and rapid response to incidents;
Promoting the reliable and efficient operation of public transport; and
Improving co-ordination with the Highways Agency.
Learning from incidents is an integral part of managing the road network. Through the Traffic
Control and Information Centre, mechanisms will be introduced to enable Somerset County
Council, working with the Highways Agency and the Police, to identify how lessons can be
learnt and improvements can be made.
Online Information Services
Somerset County Council is developing online transport information services for the public
including web pages advising on adverse weather, road closures within Somerset, scheduled
(45)
road and street works and events. The Elgin local roadworks information website
is
being further developed to assist in displaying this data.
The County Council also promotes the ‘traveline’ public transport information service via
(46)
the Council website . The traveline service provides travel information by a phone enquiry
(47)
service between 07:00 and 23:00 and via the traveline website
24 hours a day. The
traveline text service allows bus passengers in Somerset to get scheduled times of the
next three buses at a particular bus stop by text message.
Somerset Direct
The Roads and Transport team customer contact centre has been established for over five
years. It consists of a group of customer service advisers who are specifically trained in
this area. The centre has a dedicated telephone number: 0845 345 9155 and e-mail address:
roadsandtransportSD@somerset.gov.u k
The team forms the primary interface with the general public and the advisers are trained
to deal with a range of issues, including the reporting of hazards on the roads (e.g. potholes
45 http://roadworks.org/
46 http://www.somerset.gov.uk/irj/public/services/directory/service?rid=/wpccontent/Sites/
SCC/Web%20Pages/Services/Services/Environment/Bus%20times%20via%20text%20message
47 http://www.travelinesw.com/
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or flooding), applications for skip and scaffold licenses and enquiries about road closures.
Customer service advisers build detailed accounts of reported faults (which include the
plotting of the fault location on a GIS mapping system) and forward them electronically to
be investigated. They can also provide progress reports or follow up calls when new
information is available.
There is a close relationship between Somerset Direct and the Area Highways Offices,
enabling information to be shared quickly and effectively. This is essential in planning a
coordinated response during major works or events that may cause disruption on the roads.
Additionally, a number of customer service advisers in other teams within the contact centre
are also trained to deal with these types of calls. This provides resilience during extreme
peaks in call volumes (e.g. during severe weather conditions).
Satellite Navigation Systems
Satellite navigation systems have revolutionised the way that many road users find their
way around the highway network. If used correctly these systems can be very beneficial.
However there have been a number of incidents resulting from heavy goods vehicles being
routed down inappropriate roads as a result of the use of satellite navigation systems. This
has led to collisions with property and low bridges as well as significant local disruption on
the highway network.
Through the South West Regional Freight Forum and South West Traffic Managers Group,
we have been in ongoing consultation with the Ordnance Survey on the subject of supplying
satellite navigation devices with the necessary data to support more appropriate routing of
heavy goods vehicles. Such data could include:
Height limits;
Weight limits;
Vehicle length / axle limits; and
Advisory routings for heavy goods vehicles that avoid sensitive areas and hazards
such as low and weak bridges.
Currently this project remains an aspiration for the County Council which is looking at ways
of collecting the required data.
Joint Working with Stakeholders
Sections 4 and 5 have detailed how Somerset County Council works with works promoters,
the emergency services and other highway authorities to manage the network at a tactical
and operational level. However the Network Management Duty needs to be developed over
time, with particular emphasis on communication, information sharing and benchmarking
between all organisations with a responsibility for keeping traffic moving.
Somerset has boundaries with five local transport authorities who also have a Network
Management Duty to perform. They are:
Devon County Council;
North Somerset Council;
Dorset County Council;
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Bath and North East Somerset Council; and
Wiltshire County Council.
The most important organisations for strategic liaison and joint working are:
Highways Agency;
Emergency services (the Police in particular);
Other local transport authorities in the south west;
Bus and rail operators;
Sustrans, a leading UK charity enabling travel by sustainable means; and
Businesses, retailers and the road haulage industry.
The Highways Agency (Area 2) is responsible for the M5, A303 and A36 which pass through
the County.
Strategic Consultation Policy
Somerset County Council undertakes timely and appropriate strategic consultation with
any organisation or individual with a responsibility for, or interest in, keeping traffic moving,
including:
Elected members at all levels – County, District and Parish;
Adjacent local transport authorities and the Highways Agency;
Emergency services;
Bus, taxi and road haulage operators;
Statutory undertakers and utility companies;
District councils;
Local businesses; and
Community groups.
The purpose of the strategic consultation policy is to:
Provide a “seamless” network by integrating network management policies and schemes
with adjoining authorities;
Ensure that each organisation understands, and is signed up to, its role in delivering
the Network Management Duty;
Discuss the impact that delivery of strategic actions and decisions may have on the
interests of partner organisations and the general public; and
Identify strategic schemes and investment strategies that will be of mutual benefit to
the County Council and other organisations.
Highways Agency Liaison
Collaborative working is essential for both County Council and Highways Agency. Benefits
include the development of tactical diversion routes (see Section 5). Sharing CCTV and
traffic data is becoming increasingly important for the Council, which is also working in close
cooperation with the Highways Agency to develop contingency plans and share winter
service arrangements.
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
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The Highways Agency’s Area 2 Performance Managers attend the South West Traffic
Managers’ meeting. This provides a coordinated regional approach to traffic management
involving the Police, Highways Agency and the DfT.
Liaison with the Police and other Emergency Services
The major benefit of working with the emergency services is that they are often the first to
become aware of incidents affecting the operation of the highway network. Traffic
management following an incident is the responsibility of the County Council or the Highways
Agency, allowing the emergency services to focus on their primary role of preservation and
safeguarding of human life and prevention of damage to property.
Somerset County Council has regular meetings with the Avon and Somerset Police to
discuss traffic management issues including abnormal loads, review of speed limits and
special events.
Liaison with Public Transport Operators
Somerset County Council has worked hard to reduce the risk of low bridge strikes having
comprehensively reviewed heights and signing over the last few years. In light of government
advice on risk reduction, the Council works with Network Rail and the West Somerset
Railway when requested to explore any issues arising from railway crossings and the need
to coordinate routine rail maintenance and road works. Meetings to date have focused on
road over rail crossings in order to improve safety and explore improvements to capacity
for road traffic.
Transporting Somerset (the County Council’s public transport service) is required to tackle
issues of congestion and the resulting delays to bus services and unreliability. The traffic
growth and congestion management policy seeks to keep all traffic moving and reduce
journey times for all vehicles including buses. Punctuality Improvement Partnerships exist
between the Council and several bus operators but the implementation of measures targeted
specifically at buses, such as bus lane provision and priority at signalised junctions, will
require substantial additional funding.
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7 Monitoring and Review
Introduction
In order to demonstrate that it is meeting its Network Management Duty obligations,
Somerset County Council is committed to monitoring the effectiveness of its strategic,
tactical and operational policies and procedures in managing the road network.
Under the 2004 Act, Somerset County Council is required to monitor:
The effectiveness of the organisational structures and decision-making processes put
in place to meet the Duty; and
The effectiveness of implementing the authority’s decisions. This will include:
The timeliness and quality of works undertaken on the network;
The localised impact of these works; and
The changes to outcomes experienced by the general public, in particular those
related to traffic flow and congestion.
In addition the Council must assess its performance in managing its road network. The
performance of a network is influenced by wider Council responsibilities, such as
development control policy and the promotion of sustainable modes and there may be other
factors outside the control of the Council. The ultimate requirement of the Traffic
Management Act is to keep traffic and people moving on the network and the Council has
identified a range of monitoring techniques to measure progress in achieving this aim.
National Highways and Transport Public Satisfaction Survey
Since 2008 the National Highways and Transport Survey has reported annually on public
satisfaction with local authority delivery of highways and transportation services. The most
recent (2013) survey used 26 key benchmark indicators and 98 benchmark indicators to
measure the performance of 70 authorities on the following six themes:
Accessibility
Public Transport
Walking and Cycling
Tackling Congestion
Road Safety
Highways Maintenance & Enforcement.
Somerset County Council has used the survey to better understand the public’s views and
identify best practice across a wide range of highway and transport services, including
delivery of the Network Management Duty. Survey results can help answer the following
questions:
What service areas need improving most?
Which service areas have most potential to improve?
Who should improvements be targeted at?
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
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Where should improvements be made?
How can improvements be delivered?
Table 7.1 shows the key benchmark indicators used by the National Highways and Transport
Survey for measuring ‘tackling congestion’ and Somerset’s public satisfaction scores on
these indicators for the period 2008 through to 2013. The scores are measured on a scale
from 1 to 100. Although the ratings appear low those in the green cells are all above the
national average scores for that year. Those in yellow cells are below but within 5% of the
national average.
Tackling
Congestion
Score
2013
Scope
to
Rank Improve
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Traffic levels and
congestion
48.2
49.7
50.1
47.8
49.8
50.7
8
-7.3
Management of
roadworks
53.7
53.3
53.7
53.0
55.7
54.5
6
-2.8
Traffic
management
51.2
54.5
53.2
53.4
54.3
55.2
19
-5.9
Key Benchmark
Indicators
Table 7.1 National Highways and Transport Survey Results for Somerset County Council
2008-2013
Table 7.1 also shows Somerset’s performance on tackling congestion ranked against 24
other county councils who took part in the 2013 survey. The statistic measuring scope for
improvement is the difference between Somerset’s 2013 score and the highest score
achieved across the 25 county councils.
Due to budget constraints Somerset County Council is not participating in the current
National Highways and Transportation Survey to be published in 2014. The County’s future
participation has yet to be decided.
Network Management Performance Indicators
Regional Monitoring
There are a number of regional performance indicators specific to the Network Management
Duty that are measured and compared to other South West authorities:
SW SW1: Percentage of the 10% random sample inspections carried out.
SW SW2: Percentage of section 74 default invoiced
SW SW3: Percentage of reinstatements still temporary after more than 6 months.
SW SW4: Percentage of cores failed.
SW SW5: Percentage of signing or barriers sub-standard (by inspection).
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Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
SW SW6: Whether or not the Authority pursues Section 74 charges through
arbitration/prosecution.
SW TS2: Percentage of premature lamp faults per annum (traffic signals).
SW TS4: Percentage of sites with more than 6 faults per annum (traffic signals).
Coring Programme
Somerset County Council undertakes an annual coring programme in order to maintain
standards of workmanship and quality of reinstatement and to ensure the structural integrity
of the highway asset. Where necessary the Council undertakes enforcement action to
improve utility performance. In this way the Council reduces further congestion and the
environmental impact caused by remedial work.
Traffic Management Performance Measures
The ability to determine traffic growth and forecast change on the network is vital to decision
making in transport network management.
Historically traffic data collection has focused on establishing a comprehensive network of
traffic counters to collect volumetric data and using manual surveys to count turning
movements at junctions. In the past decade these counts have been augmented with
automatic classifiers, speed data, cycle counters, pedestrian counts, public transport surveys
etc. Data is collected at strategic sites and can help identify long-term traffic trends or
significant changes. Currently Somerset County Council has a traffic database spanning
more than 20 years. Data to meet the Network Management Duty monitoring requirements
will be published annually in Somerset County Council’s Traffic Statistics Report.
Somerset County Council’s traffic monitoring programme also provides data and information
to other teams in the organisation and to external partners.
Automatic Traffic Counters
There are over 350 automatic traffic counters located across Somerset’s highway network.
Many of the sites collect the data continuously and send it back to the Transport Data team
via telemetry allowing real time information. Others require dial-up or manual collection of
the data. Those sites that are not continuously collecting data are rotated on a regular basis.
The counters are more accurate where there is free flowing traffic. Typically accuracy for
volume is +/-2%, classification +/- 3%, and speed +/- 3%. For non-permanent sites,
validation counts are undertaken when the equipment is installed and when the data is
retrieved. For continuously monitored sites, validation is undertaken in the form of regular
manual counts.
C2, an online database, hosts the data and allows access to it through a web interface.
Where the data is collected via General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) telemetry the data
is relayed directly back to the database and can be seen as real time information. All other
data is either collected by dial up Global Positioning System (GPS) technology or manually
downloaded to its Vehicle Data Analyser (VDA-Pro) database and then transferred to C2.
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Manual Traffic Counts
Manual counts are sometimes undertaken in locations where there is no automatic counter,
usually as part of monitoring for a specific scheme or at the request of another party (such
as Parish or Town Council). Data is either collected using a handheld device or through
video recording.
To ensure that the Council has the right information to discharge its duties in a cost-effective
manner, monitoring programmes are reviewed so that:
There is adequate coverage of the network particularly where major development is
taking place or is planned;
There is an investment in real-time traffic counters where this will aid effective
operational management of the network; and
There is an investment in appropriate technologies.
Traffic Congestion
Somerset County Council has identified Taunton and Yeovil as the main congestion areas
in the county. It has invested in an Automatic Number Plate Recognition system to monitor
congestion in Taunton. New, cheaper technologies are now available and are being
reviewed for use in real-time operational management, particularly along the main corridors
in Yeovil. The ability to report on congestion indicators will provide objective information on
the effects of any change that is made to this part of the network.
Air Quality
Traffic congestion has resulted in areas of Yeovil and Taunton where air pollution has
exceeded levels recommended for good health. South Somerset District Council and
Taunton Deane Borough Council monitor nitrogen dioxide concentrations and other pollutants
and have adopted improvement programs to tackle these hot spots. Somerset County
District Council works with the districts to reduce the contribution made by slow moving
traffic to poor air quality.
Monitoring of Schemes
The development of processes for undertaking post project monitoring and evaluation will
greatly improve the transport monitoring capability of the Council.
Taunton Major Schemes
Monitoring of major schemes is required as part of the condition of grant.
Somerset has currently secured funding from the DfT for two major schemes both of which
are in Taunton:
The Taunton Third Way – completed August 2011.
Northern Inner Distributor Road (NIDR) – construction currently (2014) in progress.
National guidance requires the monitoring programme to collect data before construction,
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Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
during the construction period and for five years after the construction is completed. Due
to the similar objectives of the two schemes in Taunton data collection and reporting is
undertaken jointly.
The Bridgwater Way
The DfT has awarded Somerset £3.9m for the development of sustainable transport solutions
in Bridgwater. Cycle and pedestrian counts (using video cameras) were undertaken in
March 2013 and a monitoring plan is being developed in accordance to the guidance from
the DfT.
Pedestrian Counts
Pedestrian volumes are recorded through manual bi-annual counts in July and December.
Cycle Monitoring
There are currently 25 permanent cycle counters in Somerset. All except one (on the Third
Way) are situated on cycle paths. Data is collected on a monthly basis by manual collection
or through telemetry. The data is reported back to Somerset County Council and to
Sedgemoor District Council (Bridgwater only). It is also reported once every quarter to
Sustrans, a leading organisation promoting sustainable travel. The data sent to Sustrans
is through a data swap agreement where we receive updates to the National Cycle Map in
return for the data. No on-road cycling data is currently monitored.
Counts of cyclists are also undertaken in town centres through bi-annual manual counts,
in the same manner as manual traffic counts.
Bus Punctuality
It is a statutory requirement that bus punctuality data is collected for key towns in Somerset.
The data is collected by recording bus leaving times from 20 designated timing points or
terminus bus stops. Data is collected over the year during neutral traffic weeks (for example
when there are no school holidays or special events).
The indicator calls for the percentage of buses leaving on time to be collected. The guidance
defines ‘on time’ as “leaving no earlier than 1 minute or no later than 5 minutes after the
scheduled time”. In Somerset, the actual leaving time of each bus is also recorded to give
a better understanding of the true punctuality.
Data shows that soft improvements made as a result of joint work with bus operators in
improving operating standards in Taunton and Yeovil areas have had an impact. The county
has worked with local bus operators to prepare Punctuality Improvement Plans.
Journey Time Surveys
Journey time data is collected on timed runs, where a car is driven through a set route and
travel times are recorded at set timing points, usually junctions. There is potential to use
alternative technology such as automatic number plate recognition or bluetooth to keep
costs to a minimum.
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Freight Surveys
Heavy goods vehicles are monitored through two data streams. Data is collected from
automatic traffic counters to determine the percentage of heavy goods vehicles that are
not using strategic freight routes. Data has also been collected annually from the National
Highways and Transportation survey on the public satisfaction on routes taken by heavy
goods vehicles.
In Bridgwater and on the freight route to Hinkley Point, an automatic number plate recognition
system has been installed to help manage freight routing associated with the construction
of the nuclear power plant.
Road Safety Data
Somerset County Council uses a variety of data to understand road safety trends and
determine policies and solutions. A detailed accident investigation process aims to identify
what occurred when an incident takes place on the highway.
The Council holds the definitive casualty data for Somerset and is responsible for the
validation and submission of this data to the Department for Transport.
Additional Collection: ad hoc Requests
The Transport Data team undertakes data collection on request where resources allow.
The types of surveys undertaken include the following:
Car Park Surveys
The number and type of vehicles entering and leaving a car park is recorded, often using
video camera recording. Origin/destination questionnaires are sometimes also requested
and this will require enumerators to be on site. Length of stay and out of hours data may
also be recorded.
Turning Counts
The number and type of vehicles entering and leaving a roundabout is collected. This may
be possible using video recording or it may require enumerators.
Queue Counts
The number of vehicles queuing at a junction or roundabout is counted at requested time
intervals. This may be possible using video recording or it may require enumerators.
Roadside Interviews
Where origin/destination data is required roadside interviews may be undertaken. This
involves pulling over a sample of vehicles (under police control) and asking drivers to
respond to a questionnaire. These surveys are typically required for major transport studies
and are used in traffic modelling.
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Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Speed Data
Radar counters are installed on roadside furniture (such as a permissible street lamp) to
record the average speed data in a local area. This data is often requested by Area Offices
or Parish Councils.
Infrastructure/Accessibility Surveys
Pavement, cycle path or street furniture surveys may be carried out by enumerators in order
to assess the use or accessibility of specific routes.
Crossing Surveys
The number of people using a specific crossing is recorded. This may be undertaken using
a video camera or an enumerator.
Self Assessment and Gap Analysis
In 2009 Somerset County Council took part in a Network Management Duty benchmarking
exercise (known as Self Assessment and Gap Analysis) with other local transport authorities
in the south west. The aim was to compare current performance with the standards required
for high performance.
The analysis set out the key requirements of the Network Management Duty. The County
Council self-assessed its current performance on each requirement on a scale from 1 to
5. The results of the self-assessment indicated that whilst a basic level of compliance with
the Traffic Management Act was being delivered, the County Council could do more to
actively drive improvement.
Action Plan
In order to ensure that it achieves higher standards the Council has published an Action
Plan covering each of the key parts of the Network Management Duty (Sections 3 to 7).
The first Action Plan was first compiled in 2009 and has since been revised to accompany
the 2014 update of the Network Management Plan.
The updated Action Plan is subject to the financial constraints currently prevalent in the
public sector. Its main focus is the completion of the business case for the new Traffic
Control and Information Centre at County Hall in Taunton, which requires implementation
in the spring of 2015.
The Action Plan is a “live document” that will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis
by the Traffic Manager, Traffic Management and other Somerset Highways and Transport
services. The 2014 Network Management Action Plan is included in Appendix A.
When the planned improvements itemised in the Action Plan are in place, particularly those
associated with the Traffic Control and Information Centre, the Council will review the need
to re-assess its performance.
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
59
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Appendix A: Action Plan
Action
Proposed
Completion
Consult stakeholders on the content of this
Network Management Plan and update as
required.
July 2014
Complete Traffic Management Review.
January 2015 Traffic Management and
Control and Asset
Management
Highways and Transport
Commissioning
Further refinement of footway hierarchy
April 2016
outside urban centres. The footway hierarchy
will be reviewed, with the inclusion of surfaced
rights of way, so that the Category 3 and 4
footways can be more fully defined.
Asset Management
Work with West Somerset and South
April 2015
Somerset District Councils to enable them to
join CPE scheme.
Parking Services
Implementation of new Traffic Control and
Information Centre including development of
a full business case and ITS strategy.
April 2015
Traffic Management and
Control
Investigate mechanisms for Traffic Control
and Information Centre de-briefing sessions.
April 2015
Traffic Management and
Control
Review of traffic sensitive routes to identify
March 2015
and assess those likely to be seriously
affected by works or seasonal changes
(vehicular or pedestrian).
Identify whether additional traffic will
necessitate a temporary change in the
routes hierarchy.
Consider temporary revisions to the traffic
sensitivity of routes.
Publicise and discuss routes at
co-ordination meetings.
Consider works programme at
co-ordination meetings and programme
works to avoid sensitive times of year.
Consider traffic measures along routes.
Consider signing alternative routes for
seasonal traffic.
Work with parking enforcement service
to ensure adequate enforcement is
provided on traffic sensitive routes.
60
Responsibility
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Traffic Management and
Control
Action
Proposed
Completion
Provision of consistent and up to date
Ongoing
database of all Traffic Regulation Orders using
a GIS system.
Responsibility
Traffic Management and
Control
NB Transfer of parking TROs to GIS has been
completed.
Review of existing procedures to ensure
prompt and regular repair and renewal of
traffic signs and road markings associated
with TROs.
September
2014
Ongoing
Traffic Management and
Control
Re-assessment of reinstatement categories.
Autumn 2015 Traffic Management and
Control / New Roads and
Street Works
Agreement of diversion routes for the major
routes of Somerset’s highway network.
Winter 2014
for A39
Traffic Management and
Control / Highways
Agency
Ongoing
Development of operational plans for
Somerset’s network including operation of
VMS, liaison with other organisations, press
arrangements etc.
Ongoing
Traffic Management and
Control
Development of interim arrangements for
emergency response to bridge strikes.
January 2015 Traffic Management and
Control / Structures
Annual review of areas of the network prone
to regular unplanned incidents
Ongoing
Traffic Management and
Control / New Roads and
Street Works
(e.g. flooding).
Explore opportunities for increasing hauliers’ Ongoing
use of web-based Electronic Service Delivery
for Abnormal Loads (ESDAL) system in
Somerset.
Traffic Management and
Control / Avon &
Somerset Police
Review of effectiveness of DLOA procedures Ongoing on a Traffic Management and
to be based on response to actual incidents. six monthly
Control / Highways
basis
Agency / Avon &
Somerset Police
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
61
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Action
Explore ways of supplying data to SatNav
systems to avoid inappropriate routing of
HGVs.
Proposed
Completion
Ongoing
Traffic Management
Reinstate regular meetings between the Traffic January 2015
Manager and the Highways Agency and
between the Traffic Manager and Avon and
Somerset Constabulary
Traffic Management and
Control / Highways
Agency / Avon &
Somerset Police
Development of process for undertaking post April 2015
project monitoring and evaluation
Traffic Management and
Control / Data Monitoring
Development of process for monitoring 20mph April 2016
zones and limits
Traffic Management and
Control / Data Monitoring
Table A1: Network Management Action Plan 2014
62
Responsibility
Somerset Network Management Plan 2014
Impact Assessment Form and Action Table
(Expand the boxes as appropriate, please see guidance to assist with completion)
Why are you completing the Impact Assessment?
Proposed New
Policy or Service
Change to Policy or
Service
MTFP or Paper
X
X
Service Review or
SCC Change
Programme
X
Title you are completing the Impact
Assessment on (which policy, service,
MTFP reference, cluster etc)?
Network Management Plan update.
Risk Rating
Overall the risks are low to medium. The
highest (medium) risks relate to disruption
caused by street works, the threat to
implementation of the Plan from funding
shortfalls and road safety.
Section 1 – Description of what is being impact assessed
Under the Network Management Duty of the Traffic Management Act 2004 Somerset
County Council has an obligation, as the local traffic authority, to produce a Network
Management Plan.
The Network Management Plan demonstrates that the Authority is complying with the
expectations of the Government in relation to the Traffic Management Act and Network
Management Duty i.e. that SCC is managing its road network to secure the
expeditious movement of all traffic and travel.
The Traffic Management Act states that the term “traffic” should include pedestrians.
Therefore the Network Management Duty requires the local traffic authority to consider
the movement needs of all road users: that is, pedestrians and cyclists as well as
motorised vehicles engaged in the transport of people or goods.
The Plan provides a comprehensive guide and reference document for Somerset
County Council and other responsible organisations.
The existing Network Management Plan was produced in March 2010 since when the
County Council has undergone considerable organisational change and new
legislation and policy development has impacted on traffic management issues. As a
result the original Network Management Plan has been updated to better reflect
current circumstances.
Section 2A – People or communities that are targeted or could be affected (for
Equalities - taking particular note of the Protected Characteristic listed in action table)
Gender Reassignment
Marriage and Civil Partnership
Pregnancy and Maternity
Race (including ethnicity or national
origin, colour, nationality and Gypsies
and Travellers)
Religion and Belief
Sex
Sexual Orientation
No specific impacts have been identified
based upon these characteristics.
1
Other (including caring responsibilities,
low income, Military Status etc)
Older, younger and disabled road users
including visually and physically impaired
people, wheelchair users, users of
mobility scooters etc.
Specific classes of road user (i.e.
pedestrians, cyclists, public transport
users, motorcyclists, drivers of motor
vehicles including freight, specialist
service operators and users)
Residents and communities affected by
adverse impacts of traffic (e.g. poor air
quality, noise, severance, congestion,
etc).
Vulnerable road users (cyclists and
pedestrians, particularly children and
older people) disproportionally affected
by road accidents.
Local businesses, retailers etc. affected
by traffic congestion, road works and/or
special events on the highway.
Rural communities adversely affected by
HGV usage of inappropriate routes.
The Plan includes policies designed to
ensure that the needs of all road users
are fully considered when transport
strategies, plans and investment
programmes are developed.
The Plan includes policies designed to
ensure that the needs of all road users
are fully considered when transport
strategies, plans and investment
programmes are developed.
The Plan’s principal objective is
alleviating congestion and thereby
reducing these adverse traffic impacts
overall. It is possible that some
communities may experience temporary
worsening of impacts due for example to
traffic diversions resulting from road
works or special events.
Speed management policies including
recommendations for introducing 20mph
zones and limits have been added to the
updated Network Management Plan.
Network management policies will
minimise the adverse economic impacts
of congestion and planned and
unplanned events on the highway.
The Plan includes a network hierarchy
and other policies to manage the
appropriate routing of freight vehicles.
Section 2B – People who are delivering the policy or service
The Traffic Manager / Traffic and Transport Development / Highways Maintenance
Section 3 – Evidence and data used for the assessment (Attach documents where
appropriate)
Traffic Management Act 2004; Network Management Duty Guidance (November
2004); SCC Network Management Plan 2014; SCC Future Transport Plan; Equalities
Act (2010).
Section 4 – Conclusions drawn about the impact of the proposed change or new
service/policy (Please use prompt sheet for help with what to consider):
Key issues to be fed into relevant Action Table
Equality
No issues have been identified that will impact on gender reassignment, marriage and
civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual
orientation.
There are identified benefits for vulnerable road users including those with disabilities
and older and younger people, due to policies that aim to ensure the interests of all
highway users are considered and, in addition, new speed management policies. This
could have a positive impact on carers if the people they care for are more able and
confident to travel by themselves.
Businesses and communities that may suffer disproportionately from adverse traffic
2
impacts should benefit from improved management of the network and reduced
congestion.
Health and Safety
Health and Safety is the responsibility of contractors and organisations undertaking
operations and running events on the highway network. The Council expects such
works to be carried out under the rules and regulations specified in legislation, codes
of practice etc. Somerset Highways Safety Advisory Groups operate to help organisers
discharge their responsibilities. The Council has legal powers to carry out random
inspections and to intervene where illegal or dangerous sites are identified.
Sustainability
Policies to manage traffic growth should result in lower rates of growth in CO2
emissions than there would otherwise be. Similarly there are likely to be increases in
adverse impacts of traffic, including poor air quality and noise, but these should be
lower than they would be without traffic management.
Improvements in air quality can be achieved by dispersing slow-moving traffic queues.
Provision of more road space and better facilities and information for public transport,
cyclists and pedestrians should lead to increased choice and healthier lifestyles.
Community Safety
The Network Management Plan update aims to provide clearer advice to communities
on how the Somerset highway network is managed.
Policies to manage traffic growth create a range of further benefits that includes
improvements to road safety, reductions in community severance and improvements
in the public realm.
A continuing programme of improvements to the transport network aims to ensure that
traffic flows freely and that people are able to walk and cycle with ease and safety.
Privacy
There are no impacts on personal information/data.
Section 5 – After consideration please state your final recommendations based on the
findings from the impact assessment. Also include any examples of good practice and
positive steps taken.
It is recommended that the updated Network Management Plan should be adopted in
accordance with the requirements of the Traffic Management Act 2004.
Section 6 - How will the assessment, consultation and outcomes be published and
communicated? E.g. reflected in final strategy, published. What steps are in place to
review the Impact Assessment
The impact assessment will be summarised in a decision report and the full
assessment published on the internet. The decision will be taken by the cabinet
member for highways and transport.
Completed by:
Jane Creagh-Osborne
Date
14 July 2014
Signed off by:
Mike O’Dowd-Jones
Date
17 July 2014
Compliance sign off Date
08 July 2014
To be reviewed by: (officer name)
N/A
Review date:
N/A
Version
2.0
Date
18/08/2014
3
Equality Impact Assessment Issues and Action Table
Identified issue drawn Actions needed – can you
from your
mitigate the impacts? If
conclusions
you can how will you
mitigate the impacts?
Who is responsible
for the actions?
When will the
action be
completed?
How will it be
monitored?
What is the
expected outcome
from the action?
Implementation of NMP
Speed Management
policies and careful
management of all
diversions and HGV rerouting.
Traffic Manager
Ongoing
Road safety
accident data
No increase in
proportion or number
of road accidents
experienced by
children and older
people
Implementation of NMP
policies (e.g. Road Space
Management, Traffic
Growth and Congestion
Management etc) that aim
to consider the interests of
all highway users equally.
Traffic Manager
Ongoing
Accessibility
benchmarking
through NHT
survey
Disabled road users
should benefit from
NMP implementation
Age
Faster moving traffic or
changing patterns of
traffic flow could be a
road safety concern for
older people and
children
Disability
Road users with
disabilities could suffer
from reduced
accessibility if policies
favour traffic movement
over facilities for people
with disabilities.
Gender Reassignment
No impact
Marriage and Civil Partnership
No impact
Pregnancy and Maternity
No impact
Race (including ethnicity or national origin, colour, nationality and Gypsies and Travellers)
No impact
4
Religion and Belief
No impact
Sex
No impact
Sexual Orientation
No impact
Other (including caring responsibilities, rurality, low income, Military Status etc)
Adverse impacts on
vulnerable road
users (pedestrians
and cyclists).
Implementation of NMP
policies (e.g. Road Space
Management, Traffic Growth
and Congestion Management,
Speed Management) that aim
to consider the interests of all
highway users equally.
Traffic Manager
Ongoing
Walking and
cycling
benchmarking
through NHT
survey and
pedestrian and
cycling counts.
Vulnerable road
users should benefit
from NMP
implementation
Adverse impacts on
businesses and
communities.
Implementation of NMP
policies to reduce congestion
and improve traffic
management
Traffic Manager
Ongoing
Public satisfaction
benchmarking
through NHT
survey and traffic
surveys and
counts.
Businesses and
communities should
benefit from NMP
implementation
5
Health and Safety, Sustainability, Community Safety Impact Assessment Issues and Action Table
Areas of increased risk
drawn from your
conclusions
Actions needed – can
you mitigate the
impacts/risk? If you
can how will you
mitigate the impacts?
Who is responsible
for the actions?
When will the
action be
completed?
How will it be
monitored?
What is the
expected outcome
from the action?
Health and Safety Issues and Action Table
Danger to workers and the
public due to planned
highway works and events
on the highway.
Enforcement of Health
and Safety legislation
and codes of good
practice.
Traffic Manager
Contractors and
organisers.
Ongoing
H&S data
Inspection by
random sampling
No increase in
accidents due to
H&S issues
Increased casualties on
the highway network as a
result of NMP policy
implementation.
Appropriate safety
standards will be
applied.
Traffic Manager
Road Safety
Ongoing
Road safety
accident data
No increases in
accident rate.
N/A
N/A
Sustainability Issues and Action Table
Increases in greenhouse
gas emissions and
adverse traffic impacts
including air quality and
noise arising from traffic
would be likely to be lower
than they would be without
traffic management.
Traffic reduction policies
would be required
instead of traffic
management.
N/A
N/A
Community Safety Issues and Action Table
Policies to manage traffic
growth should create
benefits for communities in
terms of road and personal
None identified
6
safety.
Privacy Issues and Action Table
No privacy issues
identified
Risk Rating:
Risk
Impact
Likelihood
Risk Score
The Network Management Plan is not adopted in accordance
with the requirements of the Traffic Management Act 2004
4
2
8
Traffic management policy implementation held back by lack
of funding.
2
3
6
Traffic Management policy implementation held back by public
criticisms or objections.
2
3
6
Management of street works and/or events results in
temporary worsening of congestion and disruption.
3
4
12
Detrimental economic impacts due to unavoidable delays
caused by roadworks and/or diversions.
2
4
8
External contractors working on highway fail to follow good
practice / guidance as set out in Network Management Plan.
2
3
6
Adverse road safety impacts linked to increased speeds or rerouting of traffic in the event of emergency.
3
3
9
7